Homes at risk due to flooding

Millions of people living on flood plains are unaware that their homes are at risk, according to the Government's climate change adviser, which says three-quarters of England's flood defence systems are not being adequately maintained. The committee on climate change (CCC) warns that cuts to the Environment Agency’s budget have weakened the UK’s protection against flooding and are likely to lead to problems in the future. The committee found that Environment Agency staff cuts since 2010 had left it with 40% fewer staff to advise local authorities and developers on planning applications in flood-risk areas. This meant that 12,000 applications for flood-plain developments of nine houses or fewer went unassessed last year.