Solihull's new homes changing as 'one in 100 expectation' set

Sam Greenway

6 September 2024 at 11:49 am·2-min read

A car submerged in Nethercote Gardens during the 2018 floods, which left many residents reeling. — -Credit: (Image: Lucy Clark)

New housing in Solihull is being prepared for more frequent extreme weather events as part of the authority’s work to deal with climate change, a meeting heard. But an officer at Solihull Council has accepted there is not much that can be done to stop some floods happening again - with their work focused on protecting homes from the effects.

The subject was raised at the latest meeting of the cabinet portfolio holders’ environment and infrastructure decision session. There has been concern about how the borough will cope with extreme rainfall in the future.

This was pushed into the spotlight after severe flooding in 2018 in Nethercote Gardens and 2021 in Knowle and Dorridge. Earlier this year Solihull was also hit by the deluge from Storm Henk.

Solihull is surrounded by waterways, including the Blythe and Cole rivers, but the meeting heard flooding from surface water after torrential downpours was causing particular concern. Green Party Councillor Mark Wilson asked: “We are going to expect to see (flood events) increase with climate change.

“Warmer air means more moisture and that comes back. What provisions do we have in place for climate change? Are we working with an expectation for these flood events to carry on and increase?”

Oliver Monk, senior engineer, flood risk management at Solihull Council. replied: “We are seeing greater rainfall and more intense rainfall. We ensure all new development sites are designed to cope with a certain level of rainfall.

“We are expecting all (new) developments to be able to deal with a one-in-a-hundred year storm with an extra 40 per cent on top of that. That is the best chance we have of dealing with climate change.

“Where we have had major storms, and we have had houses impacted by flooding, we are also providing property flood resilience products. We acknowledge there is not much we can do to stop those floods happening again if we have an equally intense rainstorm - but now those houses should be protected when previously water was able to get in.”

The portfolio holder for environment and infrastructure Conservative councillor Ken Hawkins said: “We plan and prepare very well for this. I want to thank you Oliver and your team for all the work you do - you know you’ll be busy again this winter.”

Coun Hawkins noted a report on flooding submitted to the council. The councillor also approved a trial of a risk based approach to cyclical drainage maintenance, which means prioritising the emptying of gullies in areas known to fill more quickly.

The meeting was held virtually on Thursday, (September 5).

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