Aviva chief warns surge in future uninsurable homes as flood risk rises

In a recent interview, Aviva chief Amanda Blanc warned that current building practices are placing tens of thousands of new homes in areas likely to become uninsurable due to rising flood risk. She cited Aviva data indicating that one in nine houses built from 2022 to 2024 already sit at medium or high flood risk, and projected that about 115,000 additional homes will be erected in flood zones within the next decade. Blanc highlighted that roughly 6.3 million homes and businesses in England face flood danger, according to the Environment Agency, and noted that climate trends are turning once-in-80-year wet winters into once-in-20-year events.

She urged developers to adopt flood-resilient designs and asked the government to hold off on policy “kite-flying” ahead of Chancellor John Healey’s budget. Blanc also mentioned Aviva’s readiness to fund UK infrastructure projects, while noting recent spikes in pension withdrawals linked to budget speculation.