Published: 16 June 2008
Tough on Flooding
Councils must get tough on protecting people in flood risk areas, Minister for Planning Caroline Flint announced last week.
New guidance gives councils five clear steps for maximising the planning rules to better manage flood risks in their area.
It is now compulsory to consult with the Environment Agency on planning applications in flood risk areas and where councils ignore their advice on major developments the Government will intervene.
Sir Michael Pitt concluded in his interim report on the summer floods that these rules will prevent & reduce flooding - but councils need to rigorously apply them to make sure people at risk get the protection they deserve.
ABI research has found that if councils apply flood planning rules effectively the cost of flooding could be reduced by more than half in the Thames Gateway and by 96% in other growth areas.
Other independent research suggested it could cut the annual cost of flood damage by £18bn.
The five steps set out in the planning guidance that councils should follow for deciding new development are:
- Identify what the flood risks are including river/sea breaches, inadequate drainage and surface water run off or sewer problems
- Avoid risk by prioritising non-flood areas first for new development
- Critically assess whether the need for a new development outweighs flood risk, including following Environment Agency advice
- Control flooding using sustainable drainage and good design
- Ensure all new buildings that have to be in areas that might flood are resilient and safe
Planning Minister Caroline Flint said:
"We saw very clearly last summer the devastating potential of severe storms.
We can't prevent heavy downpours or abandon those already living in flood plains but wherever possible we need to make sure councils are avoiding or reducing the risk of flooding in their communities.
The Government has put tough planning rules in place for flood risk areas that we need councils to enforce. To help them we are issuing a 5 step guide to planning new homes so councils have no excuse for failing to protect their communities."
Six regional workshops have been organised in partnership with the Environment Agency and members of the insurance industry, to reinforce this message to local councils:
- Birmingham (17th June)
- Bridgewater (18th June)
- York (20th June)
- Peterborough (24th June)
- London (25th June)
- Manchester (27th June)
The Government claims to have already intervened in 24 cases following Environment Agency advice. Four were called in, a further four are under consideration and the rest were returned to councils following improvement to flood protection measures.
Developers can help avoid intervention through good pre-application engagement with local planning authorities and the Environment Agency.
Historically Britain has always lived on flat, fertile land close to waterways as the economic benefits outweighed the threat of intermittent flooding. Only 10% of England is built on flood plains.
Environment Agency Head of Planning Mark Southgate said,
"The summer 2007 floods highlighted the severe impact that flooding can have on people and communities.
We welcome the Government's policy on planning and flood risk that seeks to steer new development away from high flood risk areas.
This guide shows examples where local authorities have successfully planned their communities with flood risk in mind.
We now need all local authorities to follow this good practice to ensure that new development is fit for a future of climate change".
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