Should there be a law preventing building on flood plains?

[pdq1]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/archive/1228625.stm

At the moment the government or councils just gives advice. The trend to build on these flood plains is increasing year by year. Not only does the new house owner suffer but flood insurance is being shared by all homeowners across the country. The builders do not suffer as they still rake in the profits. You cannot make a law for people's stupidity in buying them.

[boxtops]

I wish there was - one of the towns near to us has just built a whole new estate on a low-lying flood plain.

[jno]

people have to live somewhere. What alternative do you suggest?

[pdq1]

Didn't you see that prgram JNO about Hong Kong last week. If there's a will there's a way. The problem is because we built some shocking tower blocks in East London where one fell down due to poor workmanship we have stopped building them.

[pdq1]

Ronan point in Newham where the tower block collapsed.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ronan+point&hl=en&tbo=u&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4GGHP_en-GBGB464GB464&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=adiwULukGNGEhQeI3oGAAw&sqi=2&ved=0CDcQsAQ&biw=1016&bih=507

[boxtops]

They do have to live somewhere, but not necessarily where there are known flood risks.

[emmie]

not sure what the answer is, but heard Nick Clegg spouting off yesterday about building more new towns like Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage, perhaps he better have a look where they can go first. Garden of England is becoming garden dump of England.

[modeller]

London and most/many towns are built on flood plains. People have been living near rivers for millenia. It's true throughout the world. Where would a line be drawn. ?

[jackthehat]

The guidelines from the EA have been seriously tightened in the past couple of years and anyone proposing developing areas of 'flood-risk' has to pay great attention to (and show that they have done so) all relevant data in respect of the area they are considering building on.

[ludwig]

// Should there be a law preventing building on flood plains? //

Not a law as such. They just shouldn't get planning permission - isn't this the kind of thing it's for? When a builder wants to build a load of houses somewhere stupid, the authorities should just say 'Don't be f*in daft - it's a flood plain/Swamp/Side of a volcanoe'.

There's money involved though, so common sense tends to be forgotten.

[ludwig]

I'll try that again...

Not a law as such. They just shouldn't get planning permission - isn't this the kind of thing it's for? When a builder wants to build a load of houses somewhere stupid, the authorities should just say 'Don't be f*in daft - it's a flood plain/Swamp/Side of a volcanoe'.

There's money involved though, so common sense tends to be forgotten.

[ludwig]

Hmmm.. why is my text all garbling up?
I can't be bothered to try again, but it was a fantastic opinion - well worth a best answer award.

[EDDIE51]

Flood plains are the most fertile land , that's why they were the first places to be settled ( think Egypt ) .
Anyone who lives on a flood plain will be flooded at sometime so you take your choice. Insurance company's will not insure against flood if you live on a flood plain, at least for new policies , so you take the risk of losing everything.

[EDDIE51]

Look here
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/jun/24/home-insurance-floodplain

[EDDIE51]

A lot of the UK will be affected
http://maps.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby/wiybyController?x=531500.0&y=181500.0&topic=floodmap&ep=map&scale=3&location=London,%20City%20of%20London&lang=_e&layerGroups=default&textonly=off
Where do you suggest all these houses are built ?

[pdq1]

As I said above house people in tower blocks. My sister lived in one of those blocks near Ronan Point and enjoyed it immensely living on the 15th floor with great views across London. With an increasing population desecrating the countryside with ugly housing estates we should be looking for methods that have worked.

Its crazy! Even sea walls are being knocked down to allow even more flood plains. We live in a country that is already overpopulated and land is a diminishing resource.

[EDDIE51]

Tower blocks have had a bad press recently but there are arguments for and against
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2002/jan/18/urbandesign.housingpolicy
The old 1960s tower blocks turned into a nightmare and have virtually all been demolished.