One in 50 new homes in Surrey is in an area at high risk of flooding.

There were 36 new properties built between 2015 and 2016 located in flood zone 3 (FZ3). This works out as 2% of the total 1,773 new builds registered during the period.

Areas classed as FZ3 have a high probability of flooding. Land within these areas have a 1 in 100 or greater annual probability of river flooding or a 1 in 200 or greater annual probability of sea flooding.

In comparison, land in a zone with a low probability of flooding has less than 1 in 1,000 annual probability of river or sea flooding.

Runnymede is the place with the highest percentage locally, with 20 of the 130 new builds located within FZ3.

FZ3 covers 21.3% of the area.

Mole Valley followed with the second highest percentage locally of new buildings located in FZ3, seven out of a total of 75, or 9.3%.

Contrarily, in Epsom and Ewell, Guildford, Reigate and Banstead, Surrey Heath, Waverley and Woking there were no new homes built in FZ3 during the period, despite FZ3 covering between 3% and 11% of the areas.

The River Mole at Leatherhead during flooding in the new year 2016

The figures come from an analysis by Groundsure, a UK authority specialising in environmental risks such as flooding.

Dan Montagnani, managing director at Groundsure, said “While all development in flood plains is subject to stringent flood risk assessment in both design and construction, this data shows that variation in the proportion of development occurring on the flood plain differs hugely from one local authority to the next.

Furthermore, Groundsure’s sales data indicates that only 58% of people are purchasing a full flood report and as such, homebuyers, particularly those with properties similar to those identified in this research, may be unaware of the full risks associated with the property, future flood measures required and the impact on insurance premiums.”

Across England, one new property built in every 11 was located within FZ3 in 2015/16, approximately 9,000 out of total 111,000.

This works out as a proportion of 9%, increasing from 7% in 2013/14 and 8% in 2014-15, data from Land Use Change Statistics and Environment Agency national flood zones reveals.

Areas of high risk of flooding cover 10.8% of England.

Meanwhile, the proportion of land changing to residential use in FZ3 has increased from 5% in 2013/14 (182 hectares out of 3,562) to 7% in 2015/16 (321 hectares out of 4,628).

Referring to the figures, an Environment Agency spokesperson said: “The Environment Agency advises on all proposals for major development in areas that are at a medium or high risk of flooding, although Local Planning Authorities make the final decisions.

"In the last year approximately 99% of new homes we advised on were decided in line with our advice.

“We also work closely with local authorities to manage flood risk of new developments through measures such as new flood schemes or revised building design such as raised floor levels.”

According to the Environment Agency, they’re investing £2.5bn to reduce flood risk to 300,000 homes across the country by 2021.

The Agency also advises everyone to check whether their home is at flood risk and sign up for flood warnings by visiting www.gov.uk/flood or calling 0345 988 1188.

Property Week, a news magazine in the real estate market, analysed data by Groundsure and Landmark Information last summer.

“According to research carried out by Property Week, more than 50 local authorities in England granted planning permission for a substantial amount of residential building in high risk flood areas in 2015/16," says the data editor Emanuela Barbiroglio

"One of the reasons behind this trend is there is a lack of available land for residential development – particularly in London. With the government setting an ambitious target of 300,000 new homes a year in the recent budget it’s highly likely that in the future more homes will be built in flood risk areas.”

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