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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Garden homes 'raise flood risk' | Garden homes 'raise flood risk' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The increase in new homes being built on gardens poses a "significant" flood risk, the independent reviewer into the July floods has warned. | The increase in new homes being built on gardens poses a "significant" flood risk, the independent reviewer into the July floods has warned. |
| Sir Michael Pitt told the BBC that flooding experts had repeatedly raised the issue and it needed addressed. | |
| Official figures show the number of new houses built on residential land, including gardens, has more than doubled over the last decade. | Official figures show the number of new houses built on residential land, including gardens, has more than doubled over the last decade. |
| The government says there are new rules to protect new homes from flooding. | The government says there are new rules to protect new homes from flooding. |
| 'Cumulative effect' | 'Cumulative effect' |
| Sir Michael Pitt, chairman of the independent inquiry, told BBC 5 Live the surge in garden developments - known as garden-grabbing - increased the risk of further flooding. | Sir Michael Pitt, chairman of the independent inquiry, told BBC 5 Live the surge in garden developments - known as garden-grabbing - increased the risk of further flooding. |
| Flooding experts told the independent inquiry that building on gardens is increasing and is a major problem Simon Cox, BBC Five Live 'Not in my garden' | Flooding experts told the independent inquiry that building on gardens is increasing and is a major problem Simon Cox, BBC Five Live 'Not in my garden' |
| "If it was just one house and one garden, this would not be an issue. It's the cumulative effect over time of many, many properties," he said. | "If it was just one house and one garden, this would not be an issue. It's the cumulative effect over time of many, many properties," he said. |
| With building land at a premium, property developers have increasingly been targeting people's gardens. | With building land at a premium, property developers have increasingly been targeting people's gardens. |
| The BBC's Simon Cox said: "Flooding experts told the independent inquiry that building on gardens is increasing and is a major problem." | The BBC's Simon Cox said: "Flooding experts told the independent inquiry that building on gardens is increasing and is a major problem." |
| The government insists there are tough new rules in place for new homes and councils must consult the Environment Agency on their housing plans. | The government insists there are tough new rules in place for new homes and councils must consult the Environment Agency on their housing plans. |
| The Conservatives committed themselves to ending garden-grabbing at last year's conference. | The Conservatives committed themselves to ending garden-grabbing at last year's conference. |
| A Tory-led government first changed the planning rules to make it easier to build on gardens by re-designating them as brownfield instead of greenfield sites. | A Tory-led government first changed the planning rules to make it easier to build on gardens by re-designating them as brownfield instead of greenfield sites. |
| However, the real growth occurred after John Prescott set targets for councils to prioritise building on brownfield sites, including gardens. | However, the real growth occurred after John Prescott set targets for councils to prioritise building on brownfield sites, including gardens. |
| Infrastructure loss | Infrastructure loss |
| Last summer's floods damaged thousands of homes in England. Yorkshire and Gloucestershire, where 140,000 homes were left without water, were among the areas worst hit. | Last summer's floods damaged thousands of homes in England. Yorkshire and Gloucestershire, where 140,000 homes were left without water, were among the areas worst hit. |
| Earlier this month, Sir Michael said planning for flooding should have the same priority as terrorism or flu prevention. | Earlier this month, Sir Michael said planning for flooding should have the same priority as terrorism or flu prevention. |
| The interim report said the floods in June and July led to the biggest loss of critical infrastructure since World War II. | The interim report said the floods in June and July led to the biggest loss of critical infrastructure since World War II. |
| It urged local government and emergency services to improve their knowledge and practices. | It urged local government and emergency services to improve their knowledge and practices. |
| Sir Michael also said the public should have been better prepared. | Sir Michael also said the public should have been better prepared. |
| The final report is due for publication next summer. | The final report is due for publication next summer. |