How many buildings in England lack flood defenses?

A new study has identified 1.2 million buildings in England that are at risk of flooding and are not currently covered by any flood defenses.

What type of flooding poses the main risk to unprotected English buildings?

The main threat to the majority of unprotected homes in England is surface water flooding, rather than from rising rivers or sea levels.

Where are the unprotected flood-risk buildings located in England?

Two-thirds of the buildings at risk of flooding without defenses are situated in some of England's most economically vulnerable areas.

Home / Environment / England's Flood Risk: 1.2M Buildings Unprotected

England's Flood Risk: 1.2M Buildings Unprotected

15 Apr

•

Summary

1.2 million buildings in England lack flood defenses.
Most at-risk properties are homes facing surface water floods.
Two-thirds of unprotected buildings are in economically vulnerable areas.

England's Flood Risk: 1.2M Buildings Unprotected

A recent analysis has identified 1.2 million buildings in England that are susceptible to flooding but are not covered by existing flood defenses. The study, a collaboration between Ordnance Survey and Snowflake, indicates that the majority of these at-risk properties are homes, with surface water flooding posing the main threat, rather than rising rivers or sea levels.

This data highlights that a significant portion of these unprotected structures, amounting to two-thirds, are located in areas that are economically vulnerable. The urgency is underscored by recent extreme rainfall events experienced in early 2026, which saw some of the highest levels in over a century, emphasizing the growing need for enhanced flood protection measures.