Development planning
Introduction
Flooding and coastal erosion are natural phenomena and cannot be entirely prevented. The Government aims to reduce risk through provision of new flood warning systems, new and improved defences and by discouraging inappropriate development which might increase flood risk. Communities and Local Government (CLG) has lead responsibility for development planning policy.
Flood risk
CLG's Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 25 was published in December 2006 and sets out Government policy on development and flood risk. It's aims are to ensure that flood risk is taken into account at all stages in the planning process to avoid inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding, and to direct development away from areas of highest risk. Where new development is, exceptionally, necessary in such areas, policy aims to make it safe, without increasing flood risk elsewhere, and, where possible, reducing flood risk overall. A Practice Guide on how to implement development and flood risk policies by the land use planning system was published in June 2008.
In addition to this, following consultation, DCLG have extended the Environment Agency's statutory consultee role, and made a standing planning Direction so that, where a planning authority proposes to grant permission for a major development that the Environment Agency still objects to, the Government Office can decide whether to call it in for decision by a Minister.
Defra funds the Environment Agency to advise planning authorities on development proposals to ensure flood risk is properly taken into account in the planning process. An annual report is prepared jointly by the Environment Agency and the Local Government Association which sets out the impact of technical advice provided by the Environment Agency on planning decisions made by English local planning authorities. The report details the extent to which Environment Agency advice has been taken into account in the planning process, including the number of applications where the Environment Agency has objected on flood risk grounds and whether final decisions were in line with or contrary to that advice.
Flood resilience standards for new buildings
A project under Making space for water is looking at flood resilience standards for new buildings. A separate project is looking at resilience and resistance for existing buildings.
Coastal erosion risk
Through Planning Policy Guidance Note 20 - Coastal Planning, (released in September 1992), planning authorities are provided with advice on the issues that should be considered when making development decision in or near the coast. PPG20 states that a precautionary approach should be taken to land affected, or likely to be affected, by erosion or land instability and, in the case of receding cliffs, development should not be allowed to take place in areas where erosion is likely to occur during the lifetime of the building. PPG20 suggests that such areas should be clearly identified and mapped and shown in development plans.
Page last
modified: 23 July 2008
Page published: July 2008