Fact file

The year 2000 was the wettest experienced in the UK in over 270 years.

Sir David King warned the number of UK homes at risk of flooding could increase from 2 to 3.6 million - £220 billion of assets are at risk.

About 1/3 of all planning applications in the UK are in areas prone to flooding (ABI).

Research suggests winter rainfall will increase by 30% in 2080 in addition to rising sea levels.

The UK Environment Agency estimates the cost of protecting existing and new developments in the flood area will be £4 billion.

The Business Case

Taking the lead from countries throughout the world, the UK is now starting to recognise that floating structures can create value where value was never thought to exist – such as the regeneration of dockspace throughout the UK.

Sean Egan, senior regeneration manager for the Tees Valley Regeneration, said: “We believe that the floating structures proposed for Middlehaven will play a significant part in its regeneration, providing a blue print of how to regenerate disused docks and water space sustainably throughout the UK"

Concurrently, the UK Environment Agency along with the relevant agencies in Netherlands and Germany are adopting a flood risk approach moving from defending to managing flood risk.

The flood problem is being compounded by rising sea levels, increase in rain water fall, coupled with the demand for several hundred thousand new homes needed in the UK. A new sustainable approach and some innovative thinking are required when dealing with the development of floodplain land and waterspace. The traditional solution of land filling is very costly and will often result in increased flood risk to adjacent areas by removing functioning floodplain.

	Summer floods 2007 £6bn estimated damage to the UK economy Hundreds of thousands of people left without drinking water and electricity
	Carlisle floods 2005 76,000 homes left without electricity Worst floods in 182 years, over 2900 homes flooded
	York floods 2000 Total Bill to insurers: £1.3 Billion 25% of residents uninsured

Flood risk is becoming uninsurable in some areas due to a combination of:

• rising sea levels
• more frequent and heavy rain
• maintenance of flood defences
• inadequate investment in protecting properties that have been built in flood risk areas (ABI)
• current housing is not flood resistant

NGM has been set up in response to this situation, and has developed a strategy and methodology that works with nature to enhance the function of floodplains and still enable the delivery of sustainable homes and communities.

NGM has contributed to consultations throughout the UK.

"Innovative building and site designs that do not depend on flood barriers for protection should be encouraged, especially where this results in an increase in flood storage capacity, greater public access to the water edge or other public benefit. The risk to property and loss of life should, however, be as low or lower than development in a similar location protected by traditional methods and there should be no net loss of flood storage capacity."

– GLA Flood-risk consultation document, 2005