Developers should consider building "floating" houses to deal with rising flood waters, the chairman of the Environment Agency has suggested.
Lord Smith faced criticism over the agency's response to the extreme weather which hit large areas of Britain over the winter.
In a magazine interview he said a "silver lining" of the severe weather was more money for flood defences.
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But he told the House a ban on building on flood plains was impractical.
These included the possible construction of Dutch-style homes which could float above the rising waters.
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"There are some really exciting things that are emerging. There's a rather wonderful technology in Holland where effectively you allow the house to float," he told the House magazine.
"It looks just like an ordinary house but all the connections are flexible and in the event that flooding occurs basically the house just lifts with the water.
SOURCE: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-27425225?source=Patrick.net
JP: I like the idea although I would prefer to knock down my house and replace it with a a seaworthy boat permanently moored. Living in a wooden house raised into the stratosphere appears to be overkill.
