The government needs to get tougher when it comes to restricting new-home builds in low-lying flood-risk areas, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

It says that ministers need to tighten planning controls, which allows one third of the three million news homes planned to go up by 2020, to be built on floodplains.

This is a nightmare scenario for insurance companies still in shock from the catastrophic losses incurred by the summer flooding - estimated at £3 billion.

Justin Jacobs, the ABI's assistant director of property, speaking at the Architects' Journal conference today, said that ministers' ambitious housing plans are in jeopardy unless the flood risk is reduced.

He added: "In the last year, 13 major developments have been given the go-ahead despite Environment Agency advice on the flood risk.

"Insurers want to continue to provide flood cover, but poor planning decisions will lead to more homes becoming unsaleable, uninsurable and uninhabitable."

The ball, it would appear, is in the government's court.

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