Plans for 'holistic' flood defence

The flooding caused damage across England

A think-tank plans to find a "holistic" way of improving UK flood defences to prevent a repeat of last year's damaging floods.

Winter flooding affected 700 locations and caused 11,000 people to be asked to leave their homes or businesses.

The cost of emergency flood defences, damage to property and the clean-up operation is estimated to have passed £1bn.

The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management has brought water engineers, house builders, insureres, the Environment Agency and flood victims under one roof for the first time.

York was hit particularly hard by flooding rivers

Thursday's meeting in Leamington Spa will look at ways of improving water run-off in built-up areas.

Excess run-off water causes rivers to swell and burst their banks after periods of heavy rain.

They want to encourage the landscaping of green spaces and ponds to capture rainwater before it drains into rivers.

Countryside minister Elliot Morley admitted in March that UK flood defences would need repairs and the National Audit Office has found that 43% are not up to standard.

Flood plains

A Commons committee had previously accused the government of lacking a long-term strategy for defence and demanded the appointment of a "floods czar".

The flooding think-tank is also expected to target planners who build in areas known to be flood plains.

The Environment Agency's online flood plain mapping service was swamped by anxious householders when it was set up after the floods.

And many in the UK are still unaware that they are living in areas that could be at risk.