Reducing flood risk is 'priority'

The River Ouse flooded Lewes in East Sussex in 2000

Climate change and new development will increase the risk of flooding in the South East, according to a new State of the Environment report.

The Environment Agency said reducing flood risk, including avoiding inappropriate development in vulnerable areas, was a "major priority".

The report was discussed at a conference at Gatwick Airport in West Sussex on Wednesday.

Delegates included environment experts, house builders and council leaders.

The report says there are 310,000 properties and businesses at risk from coastal or river flooding in the South East, with the greatest threat from the sea.

Fewer than 30% of properties within a flood risk zone are registered to receive flood warnings.

SOUTH EAST ENVIRONMENT FACTS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Surrey, Sussex and Kent have a population of over eight million The South East has 1,250km (777 miles) of coastline Agriculture accounts for two thirds of land use, but only 3.3% is farmed organically If everyone on the planet lived like the average South East resident we would need three-and-a-half planets to support current lifestyles Road traffic in the South East has increase by 20% over the last decade Wild bird and salmon populations are declining, but there are signs the trends may be changing Otter populations are recovering but water voles could become extinct

The target is for 80% to be offered the service by 2010, the report says.

One of the major environmental challenges facing the region, according to the report, is developments such as the Thames Gateway which will see 580,000 new homes built by 2026.

"The critical issue is that everyone concerned with the development puts the environment at the heart of their decision-making," said the Environment Agency's Southern Region Director Howard Davidson.

Waste management is another "major challenge" facing the region, with the amount of domestic waste produced at its highest-ever level.

Household recycling went up by 64% between 2000 and 2005 and non-household by 122%.

"But the amount of waste we produce is still growing and outstripping the rate at which we recycle," said Mr Davidson.

The conference also discussed the current drought in the South East and the need to conserve water, including the increased use of household meters.

And there was a warning that heavy road traffic and energy use in the home was adding substantially to local air pollution, with CO2 emissions continuing to rise.

"Our CO2 emissions are among the highest in the country - we do need to bring these down," said Mr Davidson.