What is Property Flood Resilience?
Property Flood Resilience (PFR) involves installing measures on individual properties to reduce the impact of flooding. It is most suitable for properties in locations that are vulnerable to flooding, but where a large scale flood protection scheme isn't viable. This may be for technical, practical or economic reasons.
There are two approaches to PFR:
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Resistance: Stopping the water from coming in. This can be by using barriers such as:
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flood gates on doors
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waterproof air bricks
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non-return valves on water outlets
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Recoverability: Making the property more resilient to flooding. This is so that it recovers faster after a flood and you can move back in sooner. This can involve using flood resilient building materials and raising sockets further up walls.
You can find out more about PFR options on the BeFloodReady website.
Visit the BeFloodReady website
Cornwall Council runs projects to promote property flood resilience (PFR). Find out about our recent projects below.
Cornwall PFR delivery scheme 2025 - 2027
Cornwall Council has recently obtained funding to run a new PFR scheme. This scheme will run until Spring 2027. It aims to install resistance PFR measures to up to 68 residential properties across Cornwall. This scheme is funded through Defra, Cornwall Council and South West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee Local Levy.
If you are interested in having a PFR grant for your property, please complete the expression of interest form on our Let's Talk Cornwall site. If you are unable to use the Let’s Talk Cornwall site, please contact the Environmental Resilience & Adaptation team (floodrisk@cornwall.gov.uk).
A desktop review will be completed for all applications, to confirm eligibility and suitability for the scheme. Once the scheme launches, we will contact you to let you know the outcome. You can find out more about the criteria for the scheme in our funding policy. For properties on the scheme, Cornwall Council will:
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Carry out a risk assessment to determine how and why your property is at risk of flooding (using our contracted surveyor).
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Conduct a survey to determine which PFR measures would work in your situation (using our contracted surveyor).
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Provide a certified contractor to supply and fit the measures to the National Code of Practice standards.
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Contribute towards the costs of installation.
The value of grant that the Council can offer varies by vulnerability and property type. The Council must follow the rules of the external funding we have received for this project. You can view the funding criteria for the scheme here.
The Council will cover the cost of the risk assessment and survey for all properties. For some properties, we will also be able to cover installation costs. However, if the installation costs are greater than the grant available, then the homeowner will need to contribute the difference. All the measures required must be installed, as identified in the survey. The homeowner cannot choose to only have some measures, because then the property will not be fully protected. This would not meet the funding requirements for the scheme. The grant also cannot be used to cover costs retrospectively. This includes measures that have already been installed or previously completed surveys.
South West PFR Pathfinder
Cornwall Council was one of three Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) to successfully obtain funding from Defra. This funding was for a pathfinder project to boost the uptake of PFR measures. Cornwall Council delivered the project on behalf of all five LLFAs in the South West region:
- Cornwall Council
- Devon County Council
- The Isles of Scilly Council
- Torbay District Council
- Plymouth City Council
The pathfinder created the BeFloodReady brand and ran workshops on flood risk and resilience with residents and industry, as well as climate champions workshops with businesses. As an awareness raising tool, the project commissioned 'Missy's tale'. Missy's tale is an animated video from Aardman Animations, which illustrates flood risk and the benefits of PFR.
The project also established the South West Climate Change Centre at Heartlands in Pool. The project created two exhibits, focussed on property flood resilience and climate change. The PFR exhibit demonstrates PFR techniques and products available. The climate change exhibit has interactives on the potential impact of climate change and changes we can make to mitigate them. These exhibits are free to visit but are currently available by arrangement only. Please contact us if you would like to arrange a visit. The project also created a mobile roadshow - the 'FloodPod'.
The project created the BeFloodReady website. We also provide PFR information through the Cornwall Community Flood Forum website.
You can find out more about the work of the Pathfinder by watching the PFR video .
As well as the LLFA's listed above, we worked with Delivery partners including:
- JBA Consulting
- University of the West of England
- Cornwall Community Flood Forum
- Devon Community Resilience Forum
- The Environment Agency
- The Eden Project
- Climate Vision
- Premier Water Solutions
- Richfords Fire and Flood
Cornwall PFR Delivery Project 2020 - 2022
As a result of the Pathfinder, we ran a PFR delivery project. With the Environment Agency, we made funding available to support properties at risk of flooding to install PFR on their homes. We helped people to:
- Carry out a risk assessment to determine how and why your property is at risk of flooding
- Conduct a survey to determine which PFR measures would work in your situation
- Provide a certified contractor to supply and fit the measures to the National Code of Practice standards
- In some circumstances, help to pay for installation.
Through this scheme we funded over 40 flood hazard surveys and supported almost 30 households to better protect their properties from flooding. We prioritised participants on need and vulnerability.