Flood–risk homes 'may be uninsurable'

Many new homes could be uninsurable and unsellable unless the government introduces tougher planning controls, the insurance industry warned today. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said a third of the 3m homes set to be built by 2020 could be on a floodplain, and warned its members may not continue to offer flood cover as standard on home insurance policies. Speaking at the Architects' Journal conference today, Justin Jacobs, the ABI's assistant director of property, said: "The government's ambitious housing plans are in jeopardy unless we reduce the flood risk.