Residents could get £8,000 to flood-proof homes

Residents in Essex could be eligible for flood protection for their homes

Residents have been urged to "plan ahead" by a council after thousands of homes could be at risk of flooding due to rainfall.

Essex County Council collated Environment Agency data to identify properties most at risk.

The authority found there were thousands of homes in Basildon, Wickford, Castle Point, Colchester, Harlow and Tendering that could be affected.

Residents in these areas could be eligible for an £8,000 grant from the council to spend on flood protection measures.

Flood protection measures would be made through the Property Flood Resilience (PFR) grant, which has been funded via the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC).

Protective measures included self-closing air bricks, reinforced flood doors, non-return valves, pumps and flood barriers.

However, homeowners would be asked to contribute to their flood protection measures if they exceeded £8,000.

What areas are affected?

Figures showed1,904 residential properties in Basildon had a 3.3% risk of rainfall flooding each year, while 6,331 homes faced a 0.1% risk.

Harlow has 3,685 homes facing a 0.1% risk each year and 1,488 with a 3.3% risk per year.

Other parts of Essex included:

• Wickford - 1,558 residential properties with 1% annual risk

• Castle Point – 1,157 residential properties with 1% annual risk

• Colchester - 1,797 residential properties with 0.1% annual risk

• Tendring – 1,040 residential properties with 0.1% annual risk

Data was based on current flood risk, and it did not factored in future climate change allowances, which were due to further increase the number of properties at risk, a council spokesperson said.

Essex homeowners can check if their property could be a flood risk and apply for a grant by checking via the council website.

Conservative councillor Tom Cunningham, cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and sustainable transport at Essex County Council, said: "Essex has a long history of fighting floods from the sea and rivers, and heavy rain that can overwhelm drainage systems is becoming more frequent."