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Houses can be built on floodplains despite failing safety test, says high court

27 Sep 2026, 11:48 GMT By Amelia Hill
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Photo Houses can be built on floodplains despite failing safety test, says high court
Credit: Amelia Hill

Decision to allow development of 190 new homes in north Somerset sparks campaign for change in the law Houses can be built on floodplains even if they fail a crucial safety test, according to a high court judgment that will be of “immense interest” to developers across England and Wales. The ruling clears the way for a highly controversial development of 190 new homes on north Somerset’s floodplains, despite the site being in “flood zone 3a”, the highest level of flood risk before land is considered a functional floodplain. Continue reading...