Insurers warn on cover for flood plain homes
By Andrea Felsted and Jean Eaglesham
Published: August 20 2007 22:14 | Last updated: August 20 2007 22:14
Insurers warned on Monday they could be forced to take a harsher line on insuring new houses built on flood plains as they pressed the government to spend more on maintaining flood defences.
In a strongly worded letter to Hilary Benn, environment secretary, Stephen Haddrill, director general of the Association of British Insurers, claimed blocked drains and watercourses were partly responsible for the floods.
Mr Haddrill called for the government to think again about building housing on flood plains, and warned: “Insurers will in future scrutinise new developments more closely and warn of potential uninsurability more robustly.”
The industry trade body wants £150m spent on maintaining Britain’s flood defences on top of the £800m the government has already pledged to spend in 2010-2011. It is also seeking more details on how this promised investment will be spent.
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