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ABI issues flood warning to government
15 February 2008
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has warned that lax government planning standards could render houses "uninsurable", prompting a rejection of the claims by the housing minister.
The ABI earlier criticised local governments for going against Environment Agency advice that 13 developments slated for three million homes would be subjected to the risk of flooding.
Justin Jacobs, the ABI's assistant director of property, said on Thursday that the central government needed to take stronger action on planning to ensure householders would not risk the threat of buying uninsurable homes.
"The government's ambitious housing plans are in jeopardy unless we reduce the flood risk," he said.
Housing minister, Iain Wright, responded to the claims saying: "We are prepared to use our powers to take over decisions if required. However, all of the developments highlighted by the ABI were decided by councils before the introduction of these planning protections."
UK insurers are coming under increasing pressure from unpredictable weather such as the floods that hit Yorkshire last summer. 
