An investigation into the barriers towards making existing domestics properties more resilient to the effects of flooding: Results of a case study

The number of major flood incidents has increased significantly over the past ten years. The flood events of summer 2007 witnessed some of the worst flooding to have hit the UK in over sixty years. Climate change and other key factors are playing a significant role towards increasing flood risk in the UK. Many consultations have been published surrounding the issue of flood management and have documented the country's need for flood resilience at property level. Government strategy as outlined in Making Space for Water has recognised the need to protect properties in floodplains where flooding is inevitable. Research suggests there is a lack of take-up by floodplain homeowners to incorporate flood resilient measures into their homes as many barriers exist. The perceptions of homeowners at risk of flooding regarding the main barriers towards resilient take-up were obtained through a questionnaire survey. Results indicated the majority of the sample group regarded the uneasiness of allowing floodwater to enter their homes as the most significant barrier towards built-in flood resilience. However just over half the homeowners surveyed indicated that they had incorporated some form of resilience within their homes, highlighting that some flood communities are acknowledging the risk. In the main, homeowners were generally unaware of the majority of resilient measures which are available to them. Here, it is recommended that action is taken by government and insurers to increase awareness of flood resilient products to educate flood communities at risk.