Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will estimate the number of properties that have been built in high flood-risk areas in (a) Hull and (b) Yorkshire and the Humber after 1 January 2009.

The Department does not hold comprehensive figures for the number of homes built in high flood-risk areas but published statistics on the proportion of new residential addresses created in flood zone 3 areas are available from:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/573278/1516_Land_Use_Change_Statistics_Live_Tables.xlsx (Table p320).

National planning policy is clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk. Where development is necessary in a flood risk area and there are no suitable sites available in areas with a lower probability of flooding, it should be safe, flood resilient and not increase flood risk elsewhere. Otherwise, it should not be permitted. The Department’s statistics report only the proportion of new residential addresses created in flood zone 3 areas; they do not reflect the safety measures incorporated. For example they do not take account of the presence of flood defences.