Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to Lancaster City Council's Local Plan for Lancaster District 2011-2031: Strategic Options for Land Allocations, what assessment his Department has made of the drainage and flood prevention measures that would be required in respect of the 5,000 new homes in the rural area of the Lune Valley that would be required under Option 5 of that plan.

We have not made any specific assessment as the drafting of a Local Plan is a matter for the local council.

Planning guidance is clear that infrastructure requirements must be considered by councils when making plans.