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Improved planning guidance to help councils consider future
flood risk
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More support to ensure homes are built in low-risk areas with
sustainable drainage
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Helps communities mitigate future impact of climate change
New homes will be better protected from flooding following
changes to planning
guidance, the government has announced today (25 August
2022).
Updated planning guidance published today will help councils make
sure developments meet strict criteria in locations at risk of
flooding before they are approved, to ensure local communities
aren’t negatively impacted as a result.
The move aims to ensure that developers across England can adapt
to the challenges of a changing climate and that new homes are
sustainable.
Levelling Up Secretary said:
“We have all seen how flooding is becoming all too frequent. This
new guidance will strengthen councils’ ability to require better
flood resilience in new developments.
“Councils will need to demonstrate that the development will be
safe from flooding for its lifetime, will not increase flood risk
elsewhere, and where possible will reduce flood risk overall.
“This will help make sure our homes and neighbourhoods are built
to last for generations to come.”
Floods Minister said:
“As climate change makes extreme weather events such as flooding
more likely, we must do all we can to make sure that people’s
homes and businesses are kept safe.
“This guidance will help ensure new developments are designed
with flood resilience in mind and do not increase flood risk
elsewhere.
“This will build on our record £5.2 billion investment to build
around 2,000 flood schemes by 2027 and level-up defences across
England.”
Caroline Douglass, Executive Director of Flood and
Coastal Risk Management at the Environment Agency,
said:
“It’s vital that we plan for a changing climate by avoiding
unsafe new development in flood and coastal risk areas.
“The Environment Agency plays an important role in working with
planning authorities to ensure new development is both safe and
sustainable.
“The new guidance provides vital advice to planners and
developers to encourage the use of more sustainable drainage
systems to reduce surface water flood risk as well as how to plan
and adapt to coastal change.”
Under the changes to the planning practice guidance developments,
councils will be better placed to apply government policy, where
new homes in areas at risk of flooding, should meet recommended
standards on flood resilience – for example, using flood
resilient building materials or moving plug sockets higher up
walls.
Local areas will also have access to better guidance on how to
control surface water run-off, with the use of sustainable
drainage systems to enhance the quantity and quality of water in
the region, as well as local biodiversity. The guidance also
highlights the opportunities new development can bring to reduce
the causes and impacts of flooding through the use of natural
flood management techniques.
The new planning guidance forms part of the government’s mission
to level up and regenerate communities by delivering sustainable
and lasting homes. It will also support delivery of the
government’s policy statement on flood and coastal erosion risk
management and help to achieve our long-term goal to create a
nation more resilient to flood and coastal erosion risk.
