Why is Leicestershire Experiencing More Frequent Flooding? And What Can Be Done About It?
The Devastating Impact of Flooding in Leicestershire
Two consecutive Januarys have left Leicestershire residents reeling from severe floods, and the fear has not faded. For marketing director Simel Kara, the experience was particularly harrowing. His parents' home in Rushey Mead was flooded with a meter of water on the evening of January 2, 2024, and his 75-year-old mother spent a year sofa surfing before she could return home.
But here's where it gets controversial: despite spending more than £30,000 of their own money making the house more flood-ready, the family worries about winter. "Properties here are still at risk," Kara said. "Each time it rains, we are just hoping we don't get flooded again."
The Perfect Storm of Urban Development and Climate Change
Leicestershire is typical of many East Midlands areas, according to Ruth Needham, head of landscape and partnerships at the Trent Rivers Trust. Almost every drop of rain in a 500 sq m radius eventually flows into the River Soar, which winds through the county. About 80% of Leicestershire is farmland, and drainage systems were built to help crops grow, but they are designed to stop waterlogging and increase the speed of water entering rivers.
When you factor in the extra roads, car parks, and housing that came with new developments, it creates the perfect storm. Flat surfaces like tarmac and concrete do not absorb water, instead, rain rushes into rivers and brooks, sometimes overwhelming drains.
And parts of Leicestershire are seeing rapid housing growth along the River Soar. Between 2019 and 2022, official data shows that 13% of new homes in the Charnwood Borough Council area were built in flood-prone zones, much higher than the national average.
Who's Responsible for Flood Defences?
Over the last two years, many defences were overwhelmed. Strengthening them to match the realities of climate change will be complicated, costly, and time-consuming. The Environment Agency is the public body with broad responsibility for flood management in England, but it only maintains about half of the defences. Responsibility for the rest falls to councils, water companies, charities, and, in many cases, private individuals.
Leicestershire's defences rank among the best nationally as far as inspections go. Just 3% were below target condition at the most recent inspection, compared to a 9% average in England. But data analysis by the BBC suggests defences are 45% more likely to fall short when they are not maintained by the Environment Agency.
The Role of Catchment Management
While many residents feel let down by flood authorities, experts say the impact of climate change cannot be overlooked. The last two winters have seen record levels of rain in Leicestershire, and the River Soar hit its highest recorded level in January 2025. But longer-term solutions go beyond building higher walls alongside rivers. The Trent Rivers Trust wants better catchment management, which means slowing the flow of water upstream through ditches, bogs, and soft ground.
Its scheme at Beacon Hill Country Park is one example. Runways, dips, and retention ponds there prevent water from rushing from one of the county's highest points and into nearby Loughborough. The trust said similar management across half the county could save £19m per flood event.
What Can Residents Do?
In the short-term, residents in flood-prone areas are being urged to protect their homes. The county council has redirected £2m from a previously agreed carbon reduction reserve into flood resilience this winter, including a community fund for flood sacks administered by parish and district councils, increased drain maintenance, and extra staff to respond to flood events.
Councillor Adam Tilbury, cabinet member for the environment, said: "If you are living in a flood-risk area, it's important to make your home more resilient, make sure your reporting documents are not on the ground floor, and make sure your plug sockets are higher up if you can."
He acknowledged that many homeowners would need to invest in protections, such as flood gates and flood doors, in higher-risk areas.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The results of two investigations into the floods are due this year. A Section 19 report examining the January 2024 floods is expected this month, and another on the 2025 floods will follow in July. These reports aim to find out what went wrong and recommend improvements.
But in the meantime, residents are left to wonder if 2026 will be different. And this is the part most people miss: while the weather itself is beyond control, is enough being done to reduce other flood-risk factors and better protect communities?
