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

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure new houses are not built on areas prone to flooding without necessary defences in place.

The government is committed to building the homes the country needs while ensuring they are safe from flooding.

The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk. Where development is, exceptionally, found to be justified in areas at risk of flooding, the Framework requires that it be appropriately flood resistant and resilient, and safe for its lifetime.

Local planning authorities should consider the use of conditions or planning obligations to make development acceptable, which may include flood mitigation works. They have powers to take enforcement action against any breach of planning requirements.