​CONTRACT Boost for PWS

Premier Water Solutions 10 Ltd has been named as a delivery partner in a new £3 million project to protect communities and property from the risk of flooding.
Premier Water Solutions 10 Ltd will join South West Water, Eden Project and Cornwall Sustainable Buildings Trust in looking at ways reducing the risk of flooding and subsequent loss across Cornwall and Devon.
Louisa Inch, director of Premier Water Solutions 10 Ltd, said: “The Pathfinder Property Level Flood Resilience Project seeks to establish a south west hub to lead on property-level flood resilience techniques and innovation. As a leading voice in protecting property from flooding, Premier Water Solutions 10 Ltd is pleased to be able to lend its support and advice.”
The Pathfinder Property Level Flood Resilience Project is funded by a central government grant, awarded to South West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee Region and incorporates Cornwall Council, Devon County Council, Plymouth City Council, Torbay Council and the Council of the Isles of Scilly.
The funding will help identify high-risk areas, highlight flood protective measures, raise awareness of the risks and prevention of flood-related damage and seek to innovate and development new protective measures.
Paul Minshull, strategic resilience officer, for Cornwall Council said: “Cornwall Council is pleased to be working with the Environment Agency on the new Pathfinder Property Level Flood Resilience Project. This project will enable the lead local flood authorities in the flood and coastal committee region and their partners to increase local awareness about the benefits of protecting our homes and businesses from flooding.
“We look forward to sharing our knowledge and experiences of providing property level flood resilience and creating a foundation for changes that will have positive benefits to the people of the south west in this era of a changing climate.”
The funding follows on from a competitive evaluation process in which three projects across Yorkshire, Devon and Cornwall and central England were chosen to receive funds to boost research into, and uptake of, property-level measures to protect homes and businesses from flooding.
The funding will go towards new research initiatives, demonstration centres and advice portals which will help people to learn about the benefits of installing measures in their homes which can significantly reduce the potential impacts of flooding.
Louisa added: “Property-level flood resilience can include a range of measures to reduce the damage that flooding can cause to buildings. This can include installing flood doors, replacing traditional chipboard kitchen units with stainless steel, using slate tiles instead of carpet and ensuring that electrics are raised off ground level around the home.
“The measures can significantly reduce the amount of time people are out of their home following a flood.”
Premier Water Solutions 10 Ltd has partnered with Floodflash Insurers and can now reward properties and businesses who invest in using flood preventative measures by offering reduced premiums and excesses for properties that falls outside of the requirements of Flood Re.
The South West Partnership project, led by Cornwall Council, will focus on local innovation to enhance the future take-up of property flood resilience measures. As well as establishing a demonstration hub and web portal it will seek to simplify and streamline processes, increasing the flood resilience of communities across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
The Government is currently investing £2.6 billion to better protect 300,000 homes and thousands of business from flooding and coastal erosion between 2015-2021.