Approaches to Building Flood Resilience for Communities

Approaches to building flood resilience for Communities A Worcestershire case study exploring issues and opportunities for the historic environment in relation to flooding Summary In 2014/15 Historic England commissioned Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service, in collaboration with Dr Andy Howard of Landscape Research and Management, and community and organisational partners, to investigate the direct and indirect effects of flooding, to the county's historic environment and landscape character. A key recommendation of the project was the need to further investigate how the historic environment profession can better engage with communities and individuals looking to build resilience and plan for future flood events. This report further investigates the relationships between historic environment professionals, communities and 'hard to reach' groups, including insurance companies, loss adjustors, structural engineers and building contractors. The issues highlighted, through surveys and communications, are laid out alongside case studies of, and opportunities for, good practice. The surveys, discussions with local communities and examples of existing projects, show that there is a lot that can be achieved in terms of empowering communities to build resilience for the future, and a lot that the historic environment profession can do to support this. At an individual building level there are problems with a lack of understanding of traditional construction methods by many of the parties pushing for property-level interventions. The historic environment profession needs to disseminate our knowledge and advice in better ways because the evidence shows that the owners and custodians of these properties are keen to receive it. On a wider scale whole-catchment projects offer an opportunity for communities to be involved in reducing and mitigating flood risk through enhancement of the natural and historic environment. 2 Introduction repair historic fabric and the best methods of building resilience for the future is needed. The Flooding has devastated many settlements in profession needs to target this group, but a Worcestershire, bringing with it millions of better understanding of what is required must pounds worth of damage as well as emotional, be undertaken, before documentation is physical and financial stress for those individuals produced. and communities affected by it. Enhanced support is also needed for community Climate change predictions, exacerbated by groups who are looking to build resilience, on a changes in land use, including development in landscape or village-scale. Building on the work vulnerable areas and the hard surfacing of green carried out in the previous consultation and spaces, indicate that flooding events related to survey work, this piece of work aims to establish surface, river and coastal flooding are likely to how best we can provide that support and become more frequent. In response many advice to community groups. communities are recognising the need to create flood-resilient1 places that can better respond Methodology to, and recover from, the impact of flooding. This project began with a survey of those who The impacts on the historic environment are have undertaken flood repair or resilience often, understandably, overlooked when measures within the last 10 years (see Appendix). focussing on flood resilience or resistance, but there are a number of ways that working with Approximately 60 historic property owners the historic environment and the natural including small business owners, builders, flood environment, more broadly, can improve and specialists and loss adjustors, who have dealt enhance schemes. directly with flood repair or resilience projects, were invited to participate in an online survey A 2014 survey of residents in five areas, across 'Flooding and Historic Buildings'. The British Worcestershire, impacted by flooding (Tenbury, Damage Management Association (BDMA) and Sedgeberrow, Childswickham, Kempsey and the Institute of Historic Building Conservation Wribbenhall) highlighted a number of key areas (IHBC) were consulted separately. Contact where the historic environment profession details for individuals and companies were could potentially work more closely with acquired through word of mouth (in-particular communities. through community consultation during the original 2014/15 project) and as a result of The surveys and public consultation established internet searching. that the insurance companies, loss adjustors, structural engineers and building contractors, We were aiming to get responses from a range who work with home owners and land of perspectives including, specialist damage managers, after flood events, are often unaware management contractors, insurance assessors, of the constraints and needs of historic loss adjustors, general building contractors, structures. A better understanding of how to surveyors/architects and property owners. We failed to elicit any responses from specialist contractors or insurance assessors, but we did 1 Flood resilience is here defined broadly as the ability of an individual or community to prepare for, respond to, and recover manage to get responses from surveyors who from a flood event. Resilience measures in relation to buildings, property or structures are defined as those that do not attempt to had worked closely with these professions. prevent flooding, but enable the structure to survive the flood Perhaps the lack of response from these groups with minimal impact. Resistance measures are those that attempt to prevent or slow water-ingress into buildings and structures, such as flood doors, non-return values and drain covers. 3 indicates a lack of interest in engaging with the specialist contractors and have confidence in historic environment? their ability. The survey was followed up by more detailed Question 5: If you have used Historic England's questions and telephone discussions with guidance on flooding and historic buildings, did respondents who provided contact information. you find it helpful? Alongside this, further consultation with community groups in Sedgeberrow and Not applicable (have not used it) Wribbenhall was undertaken, looking at the Not at all helpful potential for communities to be involved in Not very helpful large-scale projects that deliver multi- Somewhat helpful disciplinary benefits. Case studies looking at Very helpful how exemplar projects elsewhere could be 0 10 20 30 40 50 applied in Worcestershire were discussed, and % the potential benefits outlined. Although over three quarters of participants Survey Results were aware of Historic England's guidance on flooding and historic buildings, only 57% had 29% of respondents were property owners, 14% actually consulted the guidance and only 43% were small business owners and 57% surveyors had felt it somewhat helpful. 29% of or architects. There were no responses from respondents felt that it was 'not very helpful'; specialist damage management contractors, one participant (a surveyor/architect) stated general building contractors, insurance assessors that the guidance was 'not applicable'. It is or loss adjustors, although one participant had interesting to note that three quarters of previously worked in the insurance sector for 5 participants in this survey, targeted years and was able to offer insight into the predominantly towards surveyors and profession. architects, were aware of the HE guidance, whereas in the previous survey (2014), targeted Of the participants questioned 57% were very generally at those living within flood risk areas, confident and 43% were somewhat confident 88% had never heard of it. that they understood the legal framework regarding listed and scheduled structures and conservation areas, including when consent might be required and where to go for advice and support (of the 57% who were 'very confident' 50% were owners of an historic building and 50% were surveyors/architects who have been involved in flood repairs/resilience. Of the 43% who were 'somewhat confident' 67% were surveyors/architects who have been involved in flood repairs/resilience and 33% were small business owners). 86% have confidence that they know the best options for the repair of historic buildings after flood events, or that they know how to find 4 Question 8: Have you encountered any of the is poor from all parties i.e. the insurance following problems arising from a poor response company, adjuster, restoration to flood damage? contractor, surveyor and contractor. I have come across a lot of instances Mositure problems resulting from the application of non-porous whereby the post flood repairs are not paints or renders on internal or… appropriate' (surveyor/architect). Evidence that a property may have • In some instances the adjuster will take been dried out too quickly advice from the drying company or a Replacement of damaged original fixtures and fittings that could have 'damp proofing specialist' over a been restored, but weren't… Chartered Surveyor who understands Installation of inappropriate or unsympathetic flood resilience how a period property works' measures (e.g. uPVC flood doors) (surveyor/architect). Measures that later proved to be damaging or ineffective • Loss adjusters, insurers and the majority of building surveyors have not got a Other (please specify and add further details on the options clue about breathability, or correct above if appropriate) materials (surveyor/architect). 0 20 40 60 80 100 • Surveyors and people

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