Research published today highlights the areas of England most vulnerable to climate risks posed by extreme weather, with more than half of the businesses and individuals working and living in those areas feeling ill-equipped to deal with it.

The study, combining publicly available information with claims data from Axa UK’s business premises and home insurance businesses, also reveals the climate risks that may pose challenges to the Labour Government's stated target of building 1.5 million homes before the next Parliament.

London appears at the top of the table for both flooding and heat risks. Sheffield residents are at high risk for flooding but not heat, while Bristol and Birmingham are vulnerable to heat but not flooding.

Axa UK’s research also offers analysis and actionable recommendations for the UK Government to achieve its housebuilding targets by identifying the areas most and least at risk of extreme weather.

The Extreme weather risks: An analysis of England's vulnerability to flooding and heat’ report was produced in partnership with research consultancy Public First, also takes into account socioeconomic vulnerabilities that make some locations better placed than others to prepare, respond and recover to extreme weather.

“We know that behind every headline about extreme weather is a human story and at Axa UK we want to protect our customers from the impact of climate change and help them prepare for the future,” said Tara Foley, CEO of Axa UK and Ireland. “This report maps out areas in England most at risk from flooding and extreme heat and calculates the associated costs, enabling decision makers to identify where future resources should be targeted and where urgent investment is needed.

“We support the Government’s ambitious housebuilding target but believe we must ensure existing homes are resilient and future-proofed and new properties are not built in flood-prone areas. This is crucial to protect our future for generations to come.”

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