More homes in England at risk of flooding than previously thought, as report reveals threat to 6.3 million properties

Thousands more homes in England are at risk of flooding than previously thought, new analysis by the Environment Agency (EA) has revealed.

Some 6.3 million homes and businesses are in areas that could flood from sudden rain, crashing seas and burst river banks, the EA said.

The figure is up from 5.5 million in the last assessment from 2018.

It means one in five properties are now in an area vulnerable to flooding.

It comes as residents across the country are still drying out their homes from flooding unleashed by recent storms Bert, Conall and Darragh.

In September, the government confirmed thousands of England's flood defences were below standard, just as rainy season loomed.

Today's analysis from the EA found nearly two in five roads are in areas at some risk of flooding, along with more than a fifth of schools, and over a quarter of hospitals and medical facilities.

The major new update used more advanced data and new mapping down to a two-metre scale, and for the first time also factored in the impact of climate change.

Britain is no stranger to rainy weather. But hotter air holds more moisture, hence global warming is making rainfall in the UK heavier.

As the climate is on course to get hotter still, the number of properties that risk flooding is set to increase to one in four within 30 years, the EA warned.

Toby Perkins MP, chair of the Environmental Audit Committee of MPs, called the findings "grim reading".

"While climate change is exacerbating flooding, we can absolutely improve our resilience so householders and business owners can stop floodwaters in their tracks."

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The EA spotted a huge jump (43%) in the number of buildings at risk of so-called "surface water flooding" - when drains are so overwhelmed that the ground above them floods.

Experts have long been warning of this growing risk, which especially affects urban areas and can be hard to predict.

Professor Jim Hall from the National Infrastructure Commission said the government must now "quantify the risk" and set targets for reducing it.

He said officials can protect more homes by limiting the amount of paved areas in new developments, instead promoting surfaces like grass or gravel that allow water to drain away.

The assessment is used to inform flood prevention measures, from the location and type of flood defences to household floodgates and public warning systems.

Julie Foley, director of flood risk strategy at the EA, said: "Providing the nation with the best available information on flood and coastal erosion risk is vital to ensuring that policymakers, practitioners and communities are ready to adapt to flooding and coastal change."

Floods minister Emma Hardy said the report showed "too many communities" were exposed to the dangers of flooding.

"Combined with the fact that this government inherited flood defences in their worst condition on record, it is vital we invest in protecting our communities," she said, pointing to £2.4bn committed over the next two years to repair and build flood defences.