Properties at Risk in the Floodplain
Indicator
Number of properties at risk in the floodplain in
Worcestershire
Status
The number of properties at risk in the floodplain is fair, but
is getting worse.
Overview
Flooding is considered to be a major issue for Worcestershire.
Over the years, floods have occurred as a result of rivers
such as the Severn, Avon and Teme bursting their banks and through
flash flooding as a result of intense rainfall.
Information relating to the number of properties in
Worcestershire at risk from flooding is provided through the
Environment Agency. The properties at risk data is updated
following a flood event. This data covers residential and
non-residential properties in Worcestershire.
In Worcestershire, approximately 10% of the land area is at risk
of flooding.
In the 2006 State of the Environment update, the number of
properties at risk of flooding was around 4000. This figure has now
increased.
As the climate is predicted to change and bring with it an
increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as
heavy rainfall, it is likely Worcestershire will see more flooding
incidents.
Through the Local Area Agreement (LAA) there is a requirement to
report on flooding. In Worcestershire, a local indicator on
flooding (reduce the risk of flooding (both fluvial and pluvial)
throughout the County) has been adopted rather than National
Indictor 189, flood and coastal erosion risk management.
Performance
There are 247,940 properties in Worcestershire. This
division between districts is shown in Figure 1, with Wychavon and
Wyre Forest having the greatest percentage of properties in the
County and Redditch and Malvern Hills having the least.
Current flooding risk data shows that Worcestershire has 4,862
households at risk from a 1 in 100 year flood (1% chance of
occurrence) and 10,254 households at risk from a 1 in 1000 year
flood.
Flooding example
Across Worcestershire in 2007 there were 4,784 households at
risk of flooding. Figure 2 shows Wychavon and Wyre Forest had
the greatest percentage of properties (residential and
non-residential) at risk of flooding with 29% and 23% respectively.
Both of these districts also had the largest percentage of
properties. The smallest percentage of properties at risk of
flooding are found in Bromsgrove and Redditch with 9% and 5%
respectively. While Malvern Hills had one of the lowest amounts of
properties in Worcestershire, the district had the third greatest
percentage of properties at risk of flooding.
Not all properties at risk of flooding are expected to receive
water damage during a flood. For example, widespread summer
flooding in 2007 saw numbers of flooded properties lower than those
figures for those at risk. However, the opposite can be said
for Malvern Hills as around 300 more properties were flooded than
those classed as being at risk.
Geographical Context
Worcestershire has the second largest percentage land area at
risk of flooding in the West Midlands Region. In England and Wales
there are 2.3 million properties at risk of flooding, this is
around 9% of all properties (DEFRA, 2006). Over 500,000
properties are thought to be in areas of significant risk of
flooding (DEFRA, 2006).
As a result of the summer flooding in 2007 across England, the
Association of British Insurers (ABI) estimated that around 130,000
domestic insurance claims were made as a results of flood damage
and a further 35,000 commercial claims for affected properties.
It is thought that across the UK flooding in 2007 could have
cost around £2 billion for the insurance industry.
In Worcestershire the total cost to the County through loss of
business etc. is thought to have reached £150 million. The
cost to Worcestershire County Council is thought to have reached £9
million in which Council owned property such as Timberdine Nursing
home, Worcester were flooded costing around £120,000 for clear up
and repairs.
Actions
The Environment Agency are now producing postcode level flood
warnings.
Multi-agency flood plans are being developed for Worcestershire
districts to aid flood preparedness and response.
Through the Local Area Agreement an action plan for the local
flooding indicator has been produced outlining actions to improve
the County situation with regards flooding.
Previous flood alleviation schemes have proven successful in
protecting homes. A £6 million flood alleviation scheme
completed in 2003 to protect 180 properties in Kidderminster, was
successful in protecting the town from flooding in July 2007.
The system stores water upstream of the town in the
700,000m3 reservoir of Puxton marshes. Later, the water is
slowly released when river levels drop.
Permanent flood defences costing around £3million are planned
for Powick, Pershore, Ucklington near Upton-upon-Severn and
Broadway near Evesham to protect properties and a pumping station.
This is expected to be completed 2010/11.
Funds have been secured to improve areas of highways drainage to
reduce the risk of flash flooding.
Further Information
The
Associaition of British Insurers offer information relating to
properties and flood risk.
Other useful information can be found on the following
websites:
The Environment Agency offer guidance and
information on
Properties at risk of flooding.
Worcestershire
Hub recovery information
Flood maps can be accessed through the Environment
Agency web pages. These tell you if your post code area
is at risk from flooding.
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