Non-defensive Flood-risk Management

A non-defensive approach to flood risk management that works with natural processes can help to reduce the ongoing maintenance costs associated with defences, reduce the residual risk and increase awareness.

 

Instead of keeping water out, developments are designed to allow flood and rain water into, over or around the sites in a controlled and predetermined manner. The intention being to create more adaptable and intuitive landscapes, improving awareness of flood risk and potentially reducing risk to other areas (the adjacent illustration shows the implication of a non managed system).

 

A development that intrinsically provides flood resilience, through good design and planning, should give insurers and financiers the confidence to offer affordable, long-term policies and investment.

 

Furthermore the concept of ‘continuity of daily life’ - before, during and after a flood, should help to avoid the detrimental economic and social impacts that can result from flooding.

Consideration of the wider context is important to avoid adversely affecting neighbours