Buildable plot on the Thames

[CharlieontheMTA]

We went to see a stunner of a plot of land on Thames today BUT does anyone know if we'd even be able to ensure the house we would build from flooding?

a dutch floating house? like on grand designs a couple of years ago?

The Environment Agency has maps of how rivers flood / are likely to flood.Online.

Just because you're near a river doesn't necessarily mean you're in it's flood plain. I'm quite near a river, but the other bank is way lower, so it's never going to flood this side.

Click on the read more tab on LHS of the link below - explains how this was achieved in this instance...

www.johnpardeyarchitects.com/modern-architecture/one-off-houses-architecture/narula-house/

www.dezeen.com/2016/01/20/baca-architects-bouyant-amphibious-house-river-thames-buckinghamshire-floating-architecture/

the one that was on grand designs.

Look at the Environment Agency flood maps online to see if it’s in the flood plain.
Has the plot got a house on it already? If not there is likely to be a good reason why. It may be extremely difficult to gain planning permission.

Our house is on the Thames and we have flood insurance with Direct Line. If you go on the council website you can see which flood zone your in.

Currently there is a mobile home used a holiday let but they do have full planning permission for a 2500 sq foot house.

Sounds amazing. Would you go with the approved plans or look to do something different? I would want to know whether the site had ever flooded before going any further. Can you find the plannng file on the council website? That may be revealing.

Getting insurance may be an issue if the site has flooded...

The insurance is my big question. From looking at the flood map they've sited the house just behind flood zone 2 and I do mean just (as in feet) behind it. Can you ask for hypothetical insurance quotes?

I did for a house we considered buying. decided against it based on the quote (high 4 figures pa)

Yes you can ask for hypothetical quotes. I phoned various insurance companies, some specialising in flood insurance. They will workout the quote from your postcode and flood zone and whether the house has flooded before plays a big part in the quote.
Direct Line ultimately provided the best quote and we have stuck with them a second year now. We are also in flood zone 2 and our house has never flooded, not even in 2014.
I think how far away from the river edge and how high the bottom of your garden is in contrast to the river plays a big part.

@CharlieontheMTA:
If you're serious (or if you're not serious but would be willing to see the plot pass to someone who is), then please message me directly.

I was responsible for the technical design of the timber frame superstructure on the amphibious house featured on Grand Designs, as mentioned by @brownelephant, and I'd love to be involved with another, building on the lessons we learned first time around.

...I should add, however, that the existing Planning consent wonuldn't have been granted unless they were satisfied that flood risk issues could be satisfactorily addressed.

Again, if you contact me with details of the land (in confidence), I should be able to tell you more.