Stemming the flood?

Peter Henley Politics Editor, BBC South

On firm foundations...?

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According to official figures one in 10 houses is now at risk of damage from flooding. That is two million people who will be worried as the winter weather moves in. And the urgent need to build more houses means that figure is set to rise further.

The pressure on local councils in the South of England was increased this week after a report from the expert body set up to advise ministers on building.

The National Housing and Planning Advice Unit called for building beyond government targets.

Otherwise, they say, house prices will rise even further above average salaries.

They projected nine and a half times by 2026.

In the Thames Valley that has to mean re-considering land on flood plains.

But flooding this year cut off drinking water to millions and threatened power supplies.

How can we build safely in areas at risk from flooding?

New technology

The simple hedgerow is providing some solutions

Just outside Waterlooville in Hampshire a £100m development of new housing may provide some clues to the sort of technology we will need.

The Newlands Common scheme centres on sustainable natural drainage.

New types of drainable surfaces will be used to prevent rainfall building into floodwater.

Hedgerows, woodland and meadow will be retained.

Yvette Cooper: building on flood plains?

The River Wallington, which currently runs through a concrete channel, will be restored to a natural bed, encouraging bio-diversity.

All along the coast in they are battening down the hatches.

A steel flood wall along the west bank of the Lymington River will protect 142 properties.

In Chichester, despite extensive flood protection around the River Lavant, the emergency planning committee have updated the probable cost of flood damage from £1.5m now to £80m by 2056.

In a debate earlier this year the Housing Minister Yvette Cooper refused to rule out further building on flood plains.

They have asked the Environment Agency for updated advice.

But the builders of some new developments that were flooded this spring are being taken to court, despite meeting all building regulations.

That, in itself, will slow the flood of new housing that the government would like to see.

Our discussion comes live this Sunday from the Oracle Shopping centre, next to the Kennet and Avon in Berkshire.

Join us on the Politics Show on Sunday 28 October 2007 at 12:00 GMT on BBC One

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