Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on the potential impact of development in flood plains on the number of properties at risk of flooding.
The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of issues, and Cabinet discussions are considered confidential.
Flood risk is an important consideration in the planning system and there are strong safeguards in place. The government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk, including floodplains.
In 2022/23, 96% of all planning decisions complied with Environment Agency (EA) advice on flood risk. In the same year, 99% of new homes proposed in planning applications complied with EA advice on flood risk.