Reserving floodplains as ‘Blue Belt’ land
Following the recent devastating flooding throughout many parts of England and Wales, the Secretary for the Environment David Milliband is considering advice given by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) to create ‘Blue Belts’. These areas would designate flood plains and prevent development in the worst potentially affected areas reducing the effect of the damaged caused by flood waters.
Reserving floodplains as ‘Blue Belt’ land favours environmental policy by reducing the need for strengthening property using engineering technology, thus reducing carbon emissions, as well as reducing the risk of development of homes that may become uninhabitable and uninsurable in the long term.
Around ten percent of homes in England and Wales are presently at some risk of flooding and the strategy of better management of flood plains may see this figure fall to negligible levels as contingency plans for repeated heavy rainfall are put in place, however, ignoring the advice regarding ‘Blue Belts’ and continuing to allow development in these areas is likely to see further widespread damage with dire social and economic impacts.
Many land owners and farmers have reported to the Country Landowners and Business Association (CLA) that they are willing to enter into debate with the government over the creation of more adequate flood plains, as many involved in rural business have fallen victim to the latest threat to the countryside that the rainwater has brought with it.
The immediate decisions to be made by the Government include a solution to funding the land set aside for ‘Blue Belts’, and the possibility of incorporating it into Higher Level Environmental Stewardship schemes, a decision on which is expected in the near future.
For further information, please contact Caroline Basnett on 01565 757970
- Ashby de la Zouch
- 01530 412821
- Banbury
- 01295 271 555
- Knutsford
- 01565 757970
- Market Harborough
- 01858 410 200
- Newark
- 01949 851815
- Southampton
- 02380 883150
- Stafford
- 01785 220 044
- Worcester
- 01905 453275
