Property Flood Resilience (PFR) Recovery Support Scheme Grant 2023

PFR refers to any measures that can be applied to a building to make you and your property less vulnerable to the physical impacts of flooding.

• PFR Resistance is the use of materials and approaches to safely keep water out of a property.
• PFR Recoverability is the use of materials, products and construction methods that mean a building can be quickly brought into use after flooding: i.e. managing the level and consequences of damage, if there is water entry.

PFR brings together a range of measures that help people become more resilient to the impacts of flooding and reduce the length of time needed for recovery. While it is not always possible to completely keep out flood water, greater individual flood resilience should reduce the cost of managing future incidents because this approach will reduce the time that you are out of your property.

Insurance

Home insurance policies generally put properties back to the state they were in prior to flooding. This should mean that if you have previously adapted your property, you should be able to secure repairs to any sacrificial or recoverable elements from your home insurer. This grant cannot be used for costs that should be covered by insurance or product guarantees, such as repair of previously installed resilience measures or the costs of drying out properties.

If you have trouble obtaining property flood insurance and need advice, contact us by email flood@telford.gov.uk.

Visit the Association of British Insurers (ABI) website to download guidance on responding to major floods

PRF companies and guidance

All PFR resistance products must have the appropriate British Standards Kite Marks under PAS 1188 of 2014 or BS 851188 of 2019. You should also use a business that is a Kitemarked PFR Installer where possible. If you doubt a PFR company is legitimate please contact Trading Standards.

Telford & Wrekin Council is not responsible for the content of these sites:

• Blue Pages
  Blue Pages is an independent flood directory that lists a range of products and services that support delivery of property flood recoverability and resistance, particularly the latter (PFR is referred to as Property Level Protection or PLR within the Blue Pages). The Blue Pages are maintained by the National Food Forum. Visit the Blue Pages website.
   
• Flood Guidance
  Flood Guidance website was originally set up as a part of a private sector initiative to provide a free and impartial source of flood guidance information. The website incorporates guidance and advice from sources including insurers, government and other industry sectors. Visit the Flood Guidance website.
   
• Flood Hub 
  Flood Hub was funded by the North West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, has been designed to be a one stop shop for flood information and resources to support householders, businesses and communities across the North West in becoming more flood resilient. Visit the Flood Hub website.
   
• The Six Steps to Flood Resilience
  The Six Steps to Flood Resilience was published by Manchester Metropolitan University’s ‘Smartest Project’, provides a step-by-step guide to the purchase, installation and use of property-level technologies. This includes advice for the initial surveying of properties, help to identify measures that are most appropriate for your individual circumstances, and information regarding the long-term maintenance and operation of protective devices. Visit The Six Steps to Flood Resilience website.

Fraud Statement

We operate a zero tolerance policy on fraud, corruption and bribery. View information on fraud against the Council.

Eligible properties

Properties that flooded internally as a result of Storm Babet  including flooding from the resultant rises in river levels (taken as a date range of the 19 to 25 October 2023). Flooding must have been caused by heavy rainfall, a watercourse overflowing or by groundwater.

Residential properties

Where habitable internal areas of the premise have been damaged by flooding. This includes static caravans etc. where this is the primary residence. 

Businesses/social enterprises and charities

Where internal areas of the premise which are critical to the day to day operations (i.e. not storage sheds or warehouses) have been damaged by flooding.

Both freehold and leasehold properties are eligible.

Properties not eligible

• Properties that flooded from a burst water main or blocked sewer unrelated to Storm Babet
• Garages, gardens, outhouses, storage areas, basements and cellars not used as part of the habitable or business area of a property.
• Second or empty homes.
• Properties that should be covered by insurance or product guarantees (e.g. repair of previously installed resilience measures or the costs of drying out).

Properties that benefited from the repair and renew grant in 2014/2015 or the 2020 PFR Grant

These properties are not eligible except where an independent PFR survey states that extra resilience measures should be installed, over and above what was previously installed. The survey will need to be carried out at your own risk by a suitably qualified professional and the cost (up to a value of £500) redeemed as part of a successful grant application. Applications for these properties will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) and blocks of flats

HMOs and blocks of flats are considered “one front door” except where Council Tax is charged separately to each flat or HMO residence. In these cases each Council Tax payer will be eligible.

Only properties directly impacted by the flood within multi-occupancy buildings are eligible. The Freehold Owner of a building is eligible for a contribution towards the cost of making recoverable repairs to the shared spaces of the building especially where this complements work being carried out to individual properties.

Deadline

The deadline for submitting PFR grant applications is 1 August 2024. 

Step 1: application

Complete the online property flood resilience application form

Once an application has been submitted Telford & Wrekin Council will assess whether your property is eligible. We will contact you if we require further information.

Step 2a: survey

Successful PFR grant applications will need to undertake independent PFR surveys and we will advise successful applicants on how to obtain one. The cost of the survey can be claimed as part of the grant up to a value of £500. The company undertaking the survey cannot be the same company that installs your PFR measures. Where resistance measures are installed, your surveyor may also need to undertake an independent post-installation survey.

Please be aware that if you undertake a property survey and do not chose to go ahead with the PFR grant, you will not be eligible to recover the costs for the survey and will need to pay for this yourself.

Make sure that any PFR surveys for listed buildings or properties within the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site take heritage into consideration when recommending suitable PFR. View information about Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site and listed buildings.

Step 2b: quotes

You must obtain three quotes for any proposed works. The PFR grant will only cover the costs of the cheapest quote even if you choose a more expensive quote. If you wish to have PFR works carried out by your insurance company’s provider please let us know as early as possible and we can assess whether the quote provided is competitive.

Step 3: legal agreements

A copy of the survey must be given to us along with the quotes and we will agree the works you wish to undertake with you. You will be required to enter into a legal agreement with Telford & Wrekin Council at this stage. The legal agreement will set out what PFR measures you will be installing and by signing it you will agree to the conditions of the grant funding and to maintain your PFR.

Step 4: heritage and planning permission

Planning permission may be required for some properties before you are able to go ahead with PFR works and a streamlined planning process has been developed for grant applicants. View information about Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site and listed buildings.

Step 5: works

You can instruct PFR works over the value of £5000, however you will need to cover any additional costs yourselves. We will usually release full the grant payment upon satisfactory completion of works, however in some cases, partial payments can be agreed to cover initial costs.

Step 6: quality assessment

Once works are competed, you will need to demonstrate to us that work has been carried out to the appropriate standards. These will vary depending on the type of PFR you install but PFR Resistance measures should have insurance backed warranties and independent post-installation surveys. 

Step 7: payment

Once works have passed the quality assessment, we will pay the amount of your original quote up to £5000 (including VAT).

Retrospective applications

Retrospective PFR applications can be submitted, however applicants will need to prove that PFR has been installed to appropriate standards and that value for money was provided. Retrospective applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

If you are planning works that have not already started and would like to apply for the PFR Recovery Support Scheme grant you should follow the application process. If you go ahead with works outside the PFR grant application process, we cannot guarantee that your application will be eligible.

Collaborative applications

Collaborative applications between adjacent eligible properties can be submitted and can include community PFR measures. These will be assessed on a case by case basis and the total value of the grant will be based on the number of properties applying. To discuss making a collaborative application, contact us by email flood@telford.gov.uk.

If you live in or operate your business from an older property, not all PFR measures will suit the fabric and construction of your building. This does not mean that no flood protection works can be carried out, but they will need to be sensitively designed taking into account the historic character of the building and the need for the traditional construction to breathe under usual conditions.

Visit the Historic England website for more information about flooding and historic buildings

Planning permission and listed building consent

Where properties fall within the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site (WHS) and/or are designated as listed buildings, planning permission and/or listed building consent may be required for certain PFR measures. You will need to gain these consents before the works can be carried out.

• Works to the exterior of the property, including alterations to doors and windows, rendering, and the fitting of flood barriers or flood gates to the building or its boundaries are likely to require planning permission for any property in the WHS.
• The majority of internal works to listed buildings may also require listed building consent, including alterations to floors, the relocation of services, re-plastering walls, replacing skirting boards, changing internal doors, or any other alteration that affects historic fabric.

For further advice about grant eligible works within the WHS or for a listed building, and the need for planning permission or listed building consent, please call the Planning Department on 01952 384555 quoting ‘Property Flood Resilience’. They will be able to advise you about any amendments you may need to make to your proposals, and how to apply for planning permission or listed building consent.

In recognition of the financial cost of flooding, Telford & Wrekin Council will waive the pre-application advice fees that would normally be applicable.

Some works may also require building regulation approval. For further advice please call the Building Control department on 01952 384555 quoting 'Property Flood Resilience'.

Flood Re and the Environment Agency have supported the production of a property flood resilience brochure with examples of homes adapted to be flood recoverable from around the country.

Visit the Flood Hub website to download the property flood resilience brochure

Please be aware that not all of the examples shown in this brochure are suitable for historic or listed buildings. If you are not sure which PFR measures are suitable for your property, please call 01952 384555 and ask for the Council’s Built Heritage Specialists referencing ‘Property Flood Resilience’.

Visit the Historic England website for more information about flooding and historic buildings