Flood Risks

HOLIDAY PARK ADOPTS FLOOD ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Posted on May 13, 2025

Weir Caravan Park in Stamford Bridge has become the first site in Yorkshire to install Flood Adaptive Platforms, pioneering flood-resilient holiday accommodation. Developed by Yorkshire-based Flood Technology Group, the innovation allows caravans to automatically elevate in response to rising water levels, offering vital protection against flooding.

This ground breaking initiative not only safeguards the site’s accommodation but also enables the park to secure full flood insurance coverage through specialist provider Compass. The move is part of site owner Kevin Hind’s strategy to future-proof the business in light of increasing flood risks.

The installation follows the recent implementation of a Flood Early Warning System at the park, providing real-time updates to facilitate timely evacuations. Up to ten pitches will eventually feature the flood-responsive platforms.

Simon Gilliland, CEO of Flood Technology Group, emphasized the growing need for such innovations: “With climate change accelerating flood risks, adaptive solutions like ours are essential for holiday parks. Our technology has already proven successful in modular homes and lodges, and we’re seeing rising demand across the UK.”

Kevin Hind added, “This cutting-edge technology provides peace of mind for us and our visitors. The installation was seamless, and we’re confident it’s the best way to protect both people and property.”

Compass Insurance
0344 274 0276
www.compassparks.co.uk

BE PREPARED

Posted on February 13, 2025

Secure your action plan for flooding risks...

Unpredictable and extreme weather conditions are having a profound effect on businesses in the holiday sector. It is vital you are prepared in the event of a disaster. Flooding is a significant risk to businesses and organisations.

A relatively small depth of flooding can cause exceptionally high losses, with a depth of flooding of around 30cm likely to cause significant/total loss. Traditionally transferring the risk has been the easiest option but insurers are increasingly cautious around flood risks due to significant losses in recent years.

Insurers also have significant concerns around climate change and the impact this may have on flood losses with greater and more regular extreme weather events being experienced. If you’re unable to get flood cover at a reasonable cost, how else can you protect your park? PIB Insurance Brokers highlights four simple steps to assess and manage flood risk:

"Floods are likely to occur outside of core opening times"

STEP 1
IDENTIFY THE RISK
There are three types of flooding which are considered as having the potential to cause significant disruption in the UK. These are coastal, rivers and streams, and surface water. GOV.UK provides services to tell you the flood risk of an area: www.check-long-term-flood-risk.service.gov.uk/risk www. flood-map-for-planning.service.gov.uk/ The information can be limited but provides an overview of the flood risk.

STEP 2
ASSESS THE RISK AND IMPACT
Where a risk is identified, it is important to understand the extent of the risk and how this might impact on the business. A specialist risk advisor can assist in a number of ways.

There are various levels of attention depending upon the nature of the risk from a simple desktop review providing greater insight to the depths of flooding etc than is provided by the government backed services through a full site survey to a full hydrologists report.

When considering the impact it is important not just to consider the potential for material losses but also the associated interruption to the business and the financial impact which may occur.

FLOODING IS A SIGNIFICANT risk to holiday park businesses and organisations.

STEP 3
CONSIDER RISK TREATMENT OPTIONS
There are various ways to look at flood risk management, this can be site level providing full protection to the site or protection of key assets such as building raised plinths for the location of mobile holiday homes and ensuring site level resources such as electrical and gas/LPG supplies are located above flood risk areas and connections etc are water resistant. A permanent protection will be more likely to be effective than a measure which requires a human response.

STEP 4
PLAN TO MITIGATE LOSS
A good business continuity plan will consider how the potential for the risk occurring is monitored such as receiving alerts from the environment agency and then deciding upon when the emergency.

David Plowman, Head of Property Risk Engineering at PIB Insurance Brokers advises: “Whilst movement of holiday homes is not practical in the event of flood warnings it can be ensured that future homes and replacement homes are built in consideration of the flood risk.

He continues: “There are core service areas within holiday parks, mitigating measures should be focused on these areas as loss of these can significantly impact sales and income dependent upon the business model of the holiday park. “Floods are likely to occur outside of core opening times and the implementation of demountable flood defences could be considered to buildings not in use outside of core season,” David adds.

PIB Insurance
Tel. 0330 058 9863
E. David.Moffat@pib-insurance.com
www.pib-insurance.com

BE PREPARED

Posted on March 13, 2024

BE PREPARED

Secure your action plan for flooding risks...

FLOODING IS A SIGNIFICANT risk to holiday park businesses and organisations.

Unpredictable and extreme weather conditions are having a profound effect on businesses in the holiday sector. It is vital you are prepared in the event of a disaster. Flooding is a significant risk to businesses and organisations.

A relatively small depth of flooding can cause exceptionally high losses, with a depth of flooding of around 30cm likely to cause significant/total loss. Traditionally transferring the risk has been the easiest option but insurers are increasingly cautious around flood risks due to significant losses in recent years.

Insurers also have significant concerns around climate change and the impact this may have on flood losses with greater and more regular extreme weather events being experienced. If you’re unable to get flood cover at a reasonable cost, how else can you protect your park? PIB Insurance Brokers highlights four simple steps to assess and manage flood risk:

UNPREDICTABLE AND EXTREME weather conditions are having a profound effect on businesses.

STEP 1
IDENTIFY THE RISK
There are three types of flooding which are considered as having the potential to cause significant disruption in the UK. These are coastal, rivers and streams, and surface water.

GOV.UK provides services to tell you the flood risk of an area: www.check-long-term-flood-risk.service.gov.uk/risk  www. flood-map-for-planning.service.gov.uk/ The information can be limited but provides an overview of the flood risk.

 

STEP 2
ASSESS THE RISK AND IMPACT
Where a risk is identified, it is important to understand the extent of the risk and how this might impact on the business. A specialist risk advisor can assist in a number of ways.

There are various levels of attention depending upon the nature of the risk from a simple desktop review providing greater insight to the depths of flooding etc than is provided by the government backed services through a full site survey to a full hydrologists report.

When considering the impact it is important not just to consider the potential for material losses but also the associated interruption to the business and the financial impact which may occur.

 

 

STEP 3
CONSIDER RISK TREATMENT OPTIONS
There are various ways to look at flood risk management, this can be site level providing full protection to the site or protection of key assets such as building raised plinths for the location of mobile holiday homes and ensuring site level resources such as electrical and gas/LPG supplies are located above flood risk areas and connections etc are water resistant. A permanent protection will be more likely to be effective than a measure which requires a human response.

 

STEP 4
PLAN TO MITIGATE LOSS
A good business continuity plan will consider how the potential for the risk occurring is monitored such as receiving alerts from the environment agency and then deciding upon when the emergency.

David Plowman, Head of Property Risk Engineering at PIB Insurance Brokers advises: “Whilst movement of holiday homes is not practical in the event of flood warnings it can be ensured that future homes and replacement homes are built in consideration of the flood risk.

He continues: “There are core service areas within holiday parks, mitigating measures should be focused on these areas as loss of these can significantly impact sales and income dependent upon the business model of the holiday park. “Floods are likely to occur outside of core opening times and the implementation of demountable flood defences could be considered to buildings not in use outside of core season,” David adds.

 

PIB Insurance
Tel. 0330 058 9863
E. David.Moffat@pib-insurance.com
www.pib-insurance.com

Raising The Risk Management Bar

Posted on March 7, 2014
Raising the risk management bar

Dolphins River Park has been recognised for steps they have taken to reduce the risk of flood damage, including raised bases.

Raising The Risk Management Bar

Dorset-based Dolphins River Park has been awarded the 2014 Leisuredays Risk Management Award for its work in reducing flood risk.

The annual award commends leisure parks that demonstrate superb risk management and help to minimise potential claims. Situated in Bridport close to the River Char, Dolphins River Park was severely flooded in July 2012. The park has since undergone a topographic land survey and installed raised bases on many of its units.

Leisuredays Business Development Manager, Alan Dixon, who presented the award to Park Manager Terry Gilbert, said: “Dolphins River Park’s risk reduction success is undeniable. The park was devastated by the summer floods in 2012, which damaged multiple units. Now in 2014, thanks to its commitment to reducing risk and its ongoing investment, Dolphins River Park is the perfect example of how risk management can help protect parks from the threat of flood and adverse weather.”

Leisuredays flood consultant has worked closely with Dolphins Park to survey the land and monitor flood risk on the park. This, coupled with the success of raised bases, ensured that no units were damaged by flood in 2013 and early 2014. Commenting on the award, park manager Terry Gilbert said: “Knowing that other parks in the country have flooded - some worse than ours - it is an honour to receive the award in recognition of all our hard work. Risk management is important for the safety and wellbeing of caravan owners, and it helps to keep insurance premiums down."