Hugh Fell of George H. White

"When assessing properties taking the risk of flooding into account will be increasingly important as we learn to cope with challenges of climate change," is the message from Hugh Fell, Managing Partner of rural specialists George F. White. Together with his team of rural surveyors, he has been heavily involved in contributing to the recent RICS information paper on Flooding. The paper aims to provide practical advice on water management issues for chartered surveyors across the UK.

The paper's publication was timed to incorporate much of the consultation work undertaken for the 2009 Flood & Water Management Bill and is designed to provide RICS members with practical guidance on the latest research and legislation. Hugh Fell is urging RICS members to get to grips with these concepts saying, "As surveyors the impact of weather magement is going to be increasingly important.  Recent localised extreme weather events, taking place in the shadow of global climate change and a hardened property market mean that we are all being urged to scrutinise more thoroughly any property which may be at risk.  Turning a blind eye is simply not an option."

The input to the report includes a large volume of research undertaken by Hugh and his planning team. This information has also been highlighted at a series of professional conferences including presentations to the Royal Agricultural Society’s Great North Meet on Climate Change and Land Values and the RICS Planning Law Conference by Richard Garland, a Rural Practice Surveyor who specialises in Planning.

Richard welcomes the RICS paper, saying “The issue of water resources and flooding can only become more relevant if climates change as predicted. Water can not only be a hugely valuable asset in terms of reliable supply and amenity value, but it can also be a major liability in the wrong amounts, and places or at the wrong time. The RICS Information Paper should bring the knowledge of the profession to a minimum standard of competence which is vital to those advising on such issues."

George F. White is already seeing a more cautious approach being taken by investors to flood risk. “If you consider the position of an investor taking a 30 year view on a parcel of farmland to be purchased as an investment, the matter becomes particularly poignant” continues Hugh. “Project yourself forward 30 years and if the sea level has risen or extreme droughts or floods have blighted the property, cashing in the investment may be impossible, particularly in the light of inevitable increases in legislation. The situation may be even worse if an investment included an element of special value such as fishing rights which may have all but disappeared if the river has dried up."

Richard Garland, who assists the Royal Town Planning Institute on Climate Change in rural areas, agrees: “The planning system is becoming increasingly concerned about the impacts of flooding on new development. Flood risk assessments and sustainable drainage assessments are now often a requirement for developments  to secure planning consent, even if they are not obviously in a floodplain. The requirements of such assessments are often complex and expensive for developers but it is vital that such risks are adequately mitigated. An unqualified flood risk means that insurance companies may refuse to insure the finished property making it all but impossible to mortgage, an expensive mistake for developers.  Local Authorities are now obliged to carry out a strategic flood risk assessment when allocating sites for development and this means that some sites held as land banks will never see a house being built. Investing in the correct place is a must and good advice, will be more vital than ever."

Consequently this specialist team at George F. White aim to remain at the forefront of the industry to provide best practice advice on this issue. Hugh Fell concludes, "This is massively important for our industry and something which will affect every person in the country in some way. As rural property experts, we are uniquely placed to not only lead industry thinking on such matters, but also to provide honest, well informed advice which allows our clients to maximise the value of their assets for generations to come”.