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Urban Flooding Triples: Cities Under Water Risk
29 Apr
Summary
- Urban homes at high flood risk have tripled since 2018.
- Social housing tenants face greatest financial vulnerability.
- Climate change outpaces infrastructure, leaving residents exposed.
Approximately 839,000 urban homes in England are now at high risk of surface-water flooding, a figure that has tripled since 2018. This increase highlights the growing impact of climate change on urban infrastructure.
Areas such as Thurrock, Basildon, Bootle, Sefton, Southport, and parts of London are among the most affected constituencies. Surface-water flooding, caused by rainfall overwhelming drainage systems, is a fast-growing threat, expected to worsen significantly over the next 50 years.
Social housing residents are disproportionately impacted, with around one in four households in the worst-affected areas being social housing tenants. Lower-income households are also more exposed to financial losses due to a lack of contents insurance.
Housing providers face rising costs from repairs and temporary accommodation. Experts and residents warn that a "step change" in urban water management is needed to address this widespread national risk.
