Starling warns of impact on insurance availability if building in flood-prone areas continues

New housing developments must be built away from flood-prone areas to ensure that flood insurance continues to remain widely available and competitively priced, according to the ABI (Association of British Insurers).

Responding to the publication of the Government Housing Green Paper, Nick Starling, the ABI’s director of general insurance and health, said: “We need new homes. But they must be built in the right place and to the right design. The devastation caused by the recent floods shows the importance of planning for the future.

“We need a fresh approach to house building to take account of the increasing risk of flooding and to ensure sustainable communities

Nick Starling, the ABI’s director of general insurance and health

“We need a fresh approach to house building to take account of the increasing risk of flooding and to ensure sustainable communities. New homes should not be built in high-risk areas of the floodplain. They must be planned and designed with flooding in mind, with greater use of flood-resilient building materials.”

The 2025 Insurance Times Awards took place on the evening of Wednesday 3rd December in the iconic Great Room of London’s Grosvenor House.

Hosted by comedian and actor Tom Allen, 34 Gold, 23 Silver and 22 Bronze awards were handed out across an amazing 34 categories recognising brilliance and innovation right across the breadth of UK general insurance.
Many congratulations to all the worthy winners and as always, huge thanks to our sponsors for their support and our judges for their expertise.