Leicestershire is drowning—and it’s not just the rain that’s to blame. Two devastating floods in consecutive Januarys have left residents terrified, their homes submerged, and their lives upended. For Simel Kara, a marketing director, the nightmare began on January 2, 2024, when his parents’ home in Rushey Mead was engulfed by a meter of water. But here’s where it gets even more heartbreaking: Kara’s 75-year-old widowed mother spent a year sofa-surfing before she could return home. Despite spending over £30,000 to flood-proof their house, the family still lives in fear every time it rains. And they’re not alone. In January 2025, another storm hit, damaging 883 properties, disrupting over 100 businesses, and forcing nearly 90 people to be rescued by boat. But here’s the part most people miss: despite the devastation, no government grants were available for those affected.
So, what’s really causing these floods? While extreme weather plays a role, experts point to a perfect storm of human-made factors. Urban development, for instance, has turned Leicestershire into a flood hotspot. Ruth Needham, from the Trent Rivers Trust, explains that the county’s farmland drainage systems, designed to prevent waterlogging, actually speed up water flow into rivers. Add to that the flat surfaces of new roads, car parks, and housing estates, which don’t absorb water, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. Controversially, some argue that rapid housing growth along the River Soar has exacerbated the problem. Between 2019 and 2022, 13% of new homes in Charnwood Borough were built in flood-prone zones—far above the national average. Areas like Loughborough, Barrow-upon-Soar, and Sileby bore the brunt of the 2025 floods, leaving residents like Mike Jelfs, a retired architect, to wonder if a decade of unchecked development is to blame.
But who’s responsible for fixing this? The Environment Agency inspects nearly 100,000 flood defenses nationally, but it only maintains about half. The rest fall to councils, water companies, charities, and even private individuals. In Leicestershire, just 3% of defenses were below target condition—better than the national average. Yet, BBC analysis suggests defenses not maintained by the Environment Agency are 45% more likely to fail. Take Quorn, for example, where a patchwork of organizations maintains flood defenses. In 2025, the village was submerged, with residents like flood warden Duncan Jack describing it as “apocalyptic.” Here’s the controversial question: Are aging flood walls and overflowing reservoirs, like Swithland Reservoir, being properly managed?
Long-term solutions go beyond higher walls. The Trent Rivers Trust advocates for better catchment management, slowing water flow upstream through ditches, bogs, and soft ground. Their Beacon Hill Country Park scheme is a shining example, preventing water from rushing into Loughborough. But here’s the catch: much of the needed land is farmland, and developers often outbid flood management projects. “The financial appeal of housing is huge,” says Needham, making it hard to prioritize flood prevention.
In the meantime, residents are urged to protect themselves. Leicestershire County Council has redirected £2m into flood resilience, including community flood sacks and increased drain maintenance. But is this enough? Councillor Adam Tilbury suggests homeowners invest in flood gates and raised plug sockets, but for many, this is a costly burden. The Environment Agency has repaired defenses and introduced new flood warnings, but with no national policy changes, are we doing enough to tackle the root causes?
Here’s the thought-provoking question for you: Should developers be held more accountable for building in flood-prone areas, or is it up to individuals and local authorities to adapt? Share your thoughts in the comments—this is a conversation we can’t afford to ignore.
