A new code of practice on flood resilience has been launched today with the aim of providing consistent advice to homeowners and other stakeholders.

The cross-industry agreement on best practice is designed to make it easier for homeowners and businesses to install measures to protect their properties from flooding.

It has been developed by the Property Flood Resilience Roundtable, which was set up by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

This followed recommendations from the Property Flood Resilience Action Plan or Bonfield Report in 2016.

As many as 5.2m properties in the UK are at risk and 40 per cent of businesses fail to reopen after flooding.

The code covers flood resistance, or measures to prevent water from entering properties, as well as flood resilience, which means limiting the damage that floods cause. 

Outgoing chair of the roundtable and former head of technical claims at Aviva Graham Brogden retired in November, but during his time leading the group he oversaw development of the code.

He says: “Currently, a lack of regulation and standards for the installation of flood resilient measures causes confusion for property owners and a lack of awareness about their effectiveness. 

“The code will bring much-needed guidance to the industry as well as confidence to consumers, and it will be fundamental to ensuring more properties are properly protected from flooding in future.”

Environment Agency chair Emma Howard Boyd says: “My thoughts are with those who have been affected by the severe weather over the weekend. 

“Environment Agency teams are out on the ground, operating flood defences and supporting affected communities.

“At the start of this Year of Climate Action, this is a timely reminder that it’s essential we increase our resilience to the impacts of climate change.”

She adds: “We need to develop consistent standards for flood and coastal resilience in England.

“Standards will help communities better understand their risk and give them more control about how to adapt and respond, in part by building back better after flooding.” 

The Environment Agency will set out further detail on its flood and coastal risk management strategy over the coming months.

The code provides guidance on surveying, identifying suitable flood prevention or protection products, installation, property construction and maintenance.  

Members of the roundtable include the Environment Agency, Aviva, Welsh Government, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure, as well as other industry bodies, such as Business in the Community.

The code was launched at a House of Commons reception hosted by Labour MP Rachael Maskell and attended by the flood minister Rebecca Pow.