What We Know About England's Uninsurable Flood-Risk Homes Warning

England is building tens of thousands of new homes in flood zones that could become uninsurable within a decade, according to Aviva chief executive Amanda Blanc, who told the BBC the current pace of construction "doesn't seem to me to make sense."

What Did Amanda Blanc Say About Flood Risk?

Blanc, speaking on the BBC's Big Boss Interview podcast, said flood risk is "absolutely increasing" and that England was "for sure" building homes that might be uninsurable at some point in the future. "It's very well known where these flooding areas are. Let's think very carefully about homes that are being built," she said. She added that construction bordering flood zones needs a different design approach: "You can do all sorts of different things to your property to make it more or less vulnerable to flood."

How Many Homes Are Currently at Flood Risk in England?

About 6.3 million homes and businesses in England are at risk of flooding, according to the Environment Agency, cited in the BBC report. Aviva's own research found that one in nine homes built between 2022 and 2024 are at medium to high risk of flooding. Based on current building patterns, the insurer projects 115,000 new homes will be constructed in flood zones over the next decade.

Key Figures

• 6.3 million — homes and businesses in England at flood risk, per the Environment Agency
• 1 in 9 — homes built 2022–2024 at medium to high flood risk, per Aviva research
• 115,000 — new homes forecast to be built in flood zones over the next decade
• Nearly 1 in 3 — homes built in 2024 projected to face some flood risk by 2050
• 1 in 7 — homes built in 2024 projected to face medium to high flood risk by 2050

How Many New Homes Could Be Affected by 2050?

Aviva's research indicates nearly a third of new homes built in 2024 will be at risk of some flooding by 2050, with one in seven facing medium to high risk as extreme weather becomes more frequent. The BBC reported the image accompanying the story showed homes in Loughborough that were hit by floods in January of last year, illustrating the kind of event Blanc says is becoming more common.

What Is Driving the Increased Flood Risk?

The Met Office estimated earlier this year that, at current levels of global warming, record-breaking wet winters like the one the UK experienced in 2023–2024 have shifted from once-in-80-year events to once-in-20-year events, according to the BBC. Blanc's comments link that shift directly to insurability, arguing that known flood-prone areas should factor more heavily into planning decisions before homes are built rather than after.

What Else Did Blanc Say About the Budget?

In the same interview, Blanc urged the government to avoid policy "kite flying" ahead of Chancellor John Healey's first Budget on October 28. As a major UK private pension provider, Aviva has watched Budget speculation drive customer behavior: Blanc said pension withdrawals ran at 30 times normal levels over the past year amid uncertainty about possible tax changes. "Effectively we saw in the last year 30 times the normal withdrawal from pensions that we would normally see, which is clearly something which customers may regret afterwards because once you take your tax-free lump sum out, you can't put it back in," she said, adding the government should "be very, very thoughtful" about what it tests publicly beforehand. Ahead of the Budget, the government has already announced a scheme to help first-time buyers onto the property ladder and a commitment from Healey to deliver what he called a "new age of industrialisation" for the UK. Blanc said Aviva is "ready with capital" to invest in infrastructure, noting the company already invests heavily in the sector. The BBC said it has approached the government for comment on the flood-risk warning.

Timeline

• 2022–2024: One in nine new homes built are found to carry medium to high flood risk, per Aviva research.
• January 2025: Homes in Loughborough are hit by flooding, per BBC/PA Media.
• Earlier in 2026: The Met Office reports that severe wet winters like 2023–2024 have become roughly four times more likely under current warming.
• September 2026: Amanda Blanc's comments air on the BBC's Big Boss Interview podcast.
• October 28, 2026: Chancellor John Healey delivers his first Budget.

What to Watch Next

• Whether the government responds to Aviva's call to restrict building in known flood zones ahead of the October 28 Budget.
• Any formal government reply to the BBC's request for comment on the uninsurable-homes warning.
• Whether pension withdrawal patterns shift again as the Budget date approaches, given last year's 30-times spike Blanc described.
• Updated Environment Agency or Aviva flood-risk data as the 2050 projections are revisited.