FOI release

EIR2026/00456: SS5 Postcode Area - Flood and Subsidence Risk

This request was refused in part, so we didn't provide some of the information the requester asked for. This may include information where we can neither confirm nor deny that we hold it.

Case reference EIR2026/00456

Received 22 May 2026

Published 3 August 2026

Request

Request Received: 22 May 2026

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 concerning any reassessment, reclassification, or alteration of flood risk and/or subsidence risk affecting properties within the SS5 postcode area.

This request arises following difficulties obtaining household insurance cover, including refusals or restrictions from insurers where flood risk and/or subsidence concerns appear to have influenced underwriting decisions.

Please provide the following information for the SS5 postcode area covering the last 10 years:

1. Flood Risk Reviews and Reclassification

   • Details of any flood risk reclassification, rezoning, reassessment, or review affecting SS5.

   • Information regarding any changes to flood modelling, drainage assessments, surface water calculations, river or coastal flood categorisation, or other flood-related risk methodologies.

2. Subsidence and Ground Stability Assessments

   • Copies of any reports, datasets, geological assessments, environmental studies, or technical analyses relating to:

     • subsidence risk;

     • clay soil movement;

     • ground instability;

     • shrink-swell risk;

     • historical land movement;

     • heave; or

     • structural ground movement within SS5.

3. Risk Classification Methodologies

   • Copies of any maps, scoring systems, risk bandings, classification methodologies, or assessment criteria used to determine flood or subsidence risk within SS5.

   • Details of any recent amendments or updates to these methodologies that may affect insurance underwriting decisions.

4. Communications with Third Parties

   • Details of any communications, meetings, correspondence, or data-sharing arrangements between your organisation and:

     • insurance companies;

     • the Association of British Insurers (ABI);

     • local authorities; or

     • property risk data providers
       relating to flood or subsidence classifications affecting SS5.

5. Incident and Claims Data

   • Any recorded increase, trend analysis, or statistical information relating to incidents within SS5 involving:

     • flooding;

     • subsidence;

     • heave;

     • landslip; or

     • structural ground movement
       during the past 10 years.

Please search documentation including emails, minutes of official meetings, hand written notes, reports, presentations, graphs, maps and other official documents both in electronic and paper form. Please include both internal and external communications.

Should going back 10 years prove to be excessive (i.e. in that it would trigger the cost exemption under Section 12 FOIA) then please limit your search to a lesser period of time (i.e. 5 years or two years).

Response

Response Sent: 23 June 2026

Full details of this response are provided in the attached document.

Documents

• IDA_309393 Response Letter_Redacted.pdf (369.2 KB)

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