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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to improve coordination between Local Planning Authorities and Lead Local Flood Authorities on ensuring (a) adequate resources and (b) clear mechanisms for reviewing planning applications in flood-prone areas.

Planning practice guidance sets out that when considering proposals for major development the local planning authority will need to consult the lead local flood authority on surface water drainage.

The guidance is clear that local planning authorities may find it helpful to agree with lead local flood authorities the circumstances and locations where site specific flood risk assessments will be required due to surface water or other local flood risks and lead local flood authority advice can be sought on other planning applications which raise surface water or other local flood risk issues. This can be achieved by having regard to the available information on local flood risks, including the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment and the updated map of flood risk from surface water which can be found on gov.uk here.

In addition, the National Planning Policy Framework is clear that sustainable drainage systems provided as part of proposals for major development should take account of advice from the Lead Local Flood Authority.

As independent bodies, local planning authorities have to make decisions about where to prioritise their resources when carrying out their planning functions. We recognise that planning departments across the country are experiencing challenges with recruitment, retention, and skills gaps. For an overview of the steps the government is taking to increase local planning authority capacity and capability, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 67508 on 21 July 2025.