Building Millions of New Homes on Flood Plains is Clearly Not the Answer

7.20.00pm GMT Thu 14th Feb 2008

Three million new homes the Government is planning to build are uninsurable

The Association of British Insurers warned today that three million new homes the Government is planning to build are uninsurable if they are built on flood plains.

Insurance premiums are expected to soar if the Government fails to effectively scrutinise whether housing developments will be able to cope with serious floods.

Lib Dem shadow Minister for Housing Lembit Opik comments "We must not leave poor families who have scraped together enough money to buy a house uninsured and unprotected. Instead, more use should be made of brownfield sites as well as unused public sector land. Ministers must also ensure that empty homes are brought back into use, including the million empty homes above shops and commercial premises."