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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of new homes built in areas of high flood risk in England in each of the last five years.

The Department produces statistics on the estimated percentage of new residential addresses created in National Flood Zone 3. Those for England for each year from 2013-14 to 2016-17 period are given in attachedTable 1.

Figures for the estimated proportion of dwellings built in England within flood risk areas for years before 2013-14 are given in attached Table 2, these figures are not directly comparable with the latest figures due to an update to the statistics production methodology. To put these figures in context. The total number of new build completions for the last five financial years for which figures are currently available are given in attached Table 3.

The revised National Planning Policy Framework clarified the strong planning safeguards against flood risk that are in place. to remove uncertainty and help ensure they are properly implemented. The Framework is clear that local planning authorities should consider the strict tests in national planning policy that protect people and property from flooding, and where these tests are not met, development should not be allowed.

Where development in flood risk areas is necessary, national planning policy is clear that it should be safe, resilient and not increase flood risk elsewhere.