Building a sustainable future - ABI publishes guidance on insurance for new developments

Building a sustainable future – ABI publishes guidance on insurance for new developments

Building a sustainable future – ABI publishes guidance on insurance for new developments

The ABI (Association of British Insurers) publishes guidance today to help developers ensure their properties are as flood proof as possible and insurable. The guidance also helps buyers make the right choice.

Launching Climate Adaptation: Guidance on Insurance for New Developments today at an ABI conference ‘Building for the Future’ Stephen Haddrill, the ABI’s Director General, said:

“Climate change means buildings are increasingly vulnerable to damage caused by severe weather, such as flooding. We all want new sustainable communities and a thriving housing market, but this can only happen if we design, build and locate new properties to withstand changing climate.

“These guidelines will help developers and planners to build properties to withstand the impacts of climate change. We encourage the building industry to develop a kite mark scheme, so that buyers and insurers can easily see if a building has been designed to be climate-resilient. Avoiding high flood-risk areas, and building better protected buildings will enable flood insurance to remain widely available and competitively priced.”

Steps insurers will expect to be taken to reduce the flood risk in new developments are:

– Approval by the relevant authority – the Environment Agency in England and Wales, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency or the Northern Ireland Rivers Agency.
– Where buildings are located in flood risk areas, developers should provide buyers with details of specific measures taken to reduce the risk, such as raised floors, flood-resilient building materials, and an assessment of the remaining risk and exposure.

– ENDS –

Notes for Editors

1. Enquiries to:
Jonathan French 020 7216 7392 (Mobile: 07958 330 480)
Malcolm Tarling 020 7216 7410 (Mobile: 07776 147 667)
Erfan Hussain 020 7216 7411 (Mobile: 07712 841 184)
Kelly Ostler-Coyle 020 7216 7415 (Mobile: 07968 364 302)

2. Climate Adaptation: Guidance on Insurance Issues for New Developments is available on www.abi.org.uk.

3. The ABI is the voice of the insurance and investment industry. Its members constitute over 90 per cent of the insurance market in the UK and 20 per cent across the EU. They control assets equivalent to a quarter of the UK’s capital. They are the risk managers of the UK’s economy and society. Through the ABI their voice is heard in Government and in public debate on insurance, savings and investment matters.

4. An ISDN line is available for broadcasts.

Copies of all ABI news releases, together with other information from the Association, can be seen on our website http://www.abi.org.uk