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Original poster

can't believe what I just heard on the news.......

62 replies

2shoes · 22/07/2007 22:42

even after all the flooding the govement still can't rule out building houses on flood plains...........pratts

OP posts:
1dilemma · 23/07/2007 00:54

used to go to some riverside pubs lots in my youth!! The water meadows (check out that name) flooded at least every other year. Lots of lovely new build riverside flats on them now!! {but they are all going to be BTL so that's allright then }

1dilemma · 23/07/2007 00:55

when when when will they tax BTL properly?
Although yet again I'm posting on here about it instead of writing to GB et al.

expatinscotland · 23/07/2007 00:55

When they bring back MIRAS, 1. In other words, when hell freezes over .

1dilemma · 23/07/2007 00:57

lol
very funny

Desiderata · 23/07/2007 00:57

I agree with expat.

Desiderata · 23/07/2007 00:57
harrypotterdies · 23/07/2007 00:59

i'm still awake - hezuz j christo - how rude

Desiderata · 23/07/2007 01:00

Yes, but I don't know who you are ... ?????

harrypotterdies · 23/07/2007 01:01

idon't know who you used to be either

Desiderata · 23/07/2007 02:06

I have always been desiderata.

I am now starting to think that you're WelshBoris!

Upwind · 23/07/2007 09:05

"Re floodplains, I have to say that anyone who knowingly bought a house on a floodplain must be an idiot. Doesn't matter how much cheaper the houses were or how much more house they got for their money, at the end of the day that land was always likely to flood"

Most first time buyers these days do not have the luxury of choice. If they buy at all it must be somewhere that is horribly unattractive to anyone who got on the housing ladder before the boom.

Renters generally do not bother to check if their new home is on a flood plain. Chances are they will be forced to move a couple of years down the line anyway.

evenhope · 23/07/2007 19:20

Here it's the expensive new 4/5 bed houses built on the flood plains. They don't flood but the water has to go somewhere... to the old houses next to the new estates.

UCM · 23/07/2007 19:21

Havent read it all but houses on flood plains should be built on piers/stilt type thingys according to DH.

I really really feel so sorry for lots of these people and this is one fund I would donate to if I thought it would go to people who needed it.

southeastastra · 23/07/2007 19:23

i always say this but we have tons of land round here that is bought up by developers to build million pound properties, then small estates are being wedged into old school grounds (which have been closed and sold off ).

there is room here in the south.

also think green belt is over prized rather than affordable housing.

paulaplumpbottom · 23/07/2007 19:24

This also seems ridiculous to me.

paulaplumpbottom · 23/07/2007 19:24

This also seems ridiculous to me.

Artichokes · 23/07/2007 19:30

10% of land in England is at risk of flooding. It is therefore nearly impossible to not use that land and yet increase the amount of housing available.

In the South East the problem is particularly severe. More housing is needed around London to support businesses in the Capitol. The most obvious place to build (i.e. the place where there is space, land is affordable, transport links are good) is the Thames gateway in Kent and Essex. However that land is on a flood plain. There really isn't much other option around London though - policy makers are kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place.

UCM · 23/07/2007 19:32

Paula are you sure it seems ridiculous hun?

SaintGeorge · 23/07/2007 19:36

Green belt is needed.

Part of the reason that the floods in Hull were so devastating is that they built massive estates on former green belt land. There are now very few open areas of land for natural drainage.

ComeOVeneer · 23/07/2007 19:39

"Re floodplains, I have to say that anyone who knowingly bought a house on a floodplain must be an idiot".

I take offence to that comment. We live on a flood plain, we did a lot of research into the real risks, contacting many agencies etc and weighed it all up. Based on the evidence our insurers were quite happy to cover us. Despite all this rain over the past few months we have had no more than a few puddles. So the above comment is ridiculously simplistic.

UCM · 23/07/2007 19:41

To be honest, I am no scientist but do believe that all of the concreting that is done today, widen roads, build carparks, paving front gardens, goes a long way to making flooding happen, sort of like a dam.

Roskva · 23/07/2007 19:43

Flood plains are generally flat(ish) and therefore cheaper to build on than slopes. Also I suspect more houses are built where demand is highest, regardless of whether the land is particularly suitable, and the developers will happily take the money and run. And put in drainage that is more than adequate for normal conditions, but simply can't cope with extraordinary conditions.

Looking at pictures on the news though, many places currently flooded are not new houses but older properties.

I agree with the suggestion that second + homes should be taxed, not just to increase the supply of housing, but also to prevent picturesque and holiday areas becoming virtual ghost towns out of the holiday season.

southeastastra · 23/07/2007 19:55

i don't really understand the green belt thing.

it's depressing isn't it

1dilemma · 24/07/2007 01:46

The flats I was talking about are built on water meadows they flood about every other year (or used to) that's what they were designed to do. I can't help but think that concreting them over & building on them even if you put in drains is shoring up problems for the future

1dilemma · 24/07/2007 01:47

water meadows