Leicestershire flooding set to become ‘more severe’ and ‘frequent’, water bosses warn
More than 20,000 properties are already at medium or high risk of surface water flooding, councillors heard
Flooding in Leicestershire is set to get “more severe”, “extreme” and “frequent” as water bosses warn more rainfall is set to batter the county in the near future.
Leicestershire County Council’s Environment, Flooding, Climate Change and Waste Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Wednesday (August 3) to discuss updates on flooding in the county and the future outlook for flooding in Leicestershire.
It also heard how water companies and a government regulator were looking at tackling storm overflows and river quality within the county.
Representatives from the Environment Agency (EA), Severn Trent Water and Anglian Water met with councillors during the meeting, who revealed that more than 20,000 properties in Leicestershire are already at high or medium risk of surface water flooding.
David Turnbull, representing the EA, said science shows rainfall potentially increasing by 40 per cent and peak river flow by 60 per cent.
Mr Turnbull said that the regulator has launched a refreshed flood risk strategy to help it respond to and adapt to flooding across the country.
The meeting heard from councillors who raised concerns about the current planning policy and how developments could lead to increased flooding in parts of the county.
Conservative Cllr Simon Bradshaw said his Syston Ridgeway ward had flooded three times.
Syston is known for experiencing major flooding during winter months, with the most recent being in 2025, when properties were regularly submerged.
One of his biggest concerns was the future South East Syston development, which could see 1,100 homes built on the edge of the town.
He told the committee that the plans show that Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDs) would discharge into the nearby river, which could “travel down” into the town, before asking whether the EA objected to the plan or had been consulted.
He added: “The flood wardens and the flood group are all extremely concerned that Syston is going to flood once this is built”.
Similar questions and concerns were also echoed by Reform Cllr Adam Tilbury, who asked Mr Turnbull how planning laws “could improve” to help mitigate flooding in the future within towns before echoing Cllr Bradshaw’s concerns around flooding in his area.
He added: “Good planning can help flooding, but bad planning makes it worse”
Mr Turnbull said that mechanisms “already exist” within the planning system and that it was a “very common anxiety” felt by towns and communities.
He also said flood risk from developments is mitigated through sustainable drainage, which requires developers to demonstrate they can slow rainfall runoff.
Reform Cllr Dr Dee North said that while she noted there would be more “monitoring” by government bodies, she felt there weren’t any real preventative measures being proposed by EA, Severn Trent, or Anglian Water regarding flooding or poor water quality in rivers.
She and other councillors also raised residents’ concerns about where the public could go if they have flooding issues.
She added: “I’m not getting that feeling or hearing that. I don’t see the unity.
“I take on board you have to work collaboratively, but that hasn’t been shown today.
Cllr North also said she and other councillors felt “passed around” or “fobbed off,” and that there “wasn’t enough” information about how residents could go with flooding concerns.
She added: “We don’t even know who to call or where that person goes. Other councillors have mentioned they feel passed around or fobbed off”.
Bryan Hemmings, representing the EA, told the committee that there “was a challenge” and the regulator “wasn’t perfect” with an internal review ongoing within the regulator.
He added: “Even though there have been changes and improvements, it hasn’t been to the satisfaction of the wider public or indeed ourselves”.