Planning and flood risk

• There were 1,160 objections made by the Environment Agency on flood risk grounds in 2007/2008 - 19% of the English total of 6,200.
• The highest number of objections were made in Sedgemoor - 10% of the regional total.
• Two of the 16 applications granted contrary to the Environment Agency's advice nationally were in the South West.
• 21 applications were granted for minor developments in the region contrary to advice.

The Government’s planning policy for England on ‘Development and Flood Risk’ (Planning Policy Statement 25 or PPS25) directs development to lowest flood risk areas first and seeks to reduce overall flood risk. PPS25 seeks to address flood risk from all sources, including the sea, rivers and surface water. It requires regional planning bodies and Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to undertake regional flood risk appraisals and strategic flood risk assessments respectively so that flood risk is more fully understood in a locality. It expects decision makers to steer new development away from areas at greatest risk, for new development to be safe over its lifetime, and for there to be no increase in flood risk elsewhere.

Since October 2006, the Environment Agency in England has been a statutory consultee for all planning applications (other than minor development) in areas where there is a risk of flooding, and LPAs must now consult the Environment Agency before making any significant decisions on new development in flood risk areas.

The Environment Agency’s annual Development and Flood Risk report shows the performance of local planning authorities in England between April 2007 and March 2008 on planning applications where the Environment Agency provided advice on flood risk.

This report provides information on the impact of the technical advice on flood risk provided by the Environment Agency on planning decisions made by English local planning authorities. It concentrates on development plans, planning applications and appeals where the Environment Agency sustained its objections through to a known decision.

Find out more and download the supporting information: High Level Target (HLT) 5 report and appendices

UK Trends (2008/09)

The most recently published Development and Flood Risk Report (2008/09) shows

• The number of planning applications referred to the Environment Agency by Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) for detailed consideration on flood risk grounds increased to 12,115 in 2008/09, compared with 9,123 in 2007/08 – an increase of 33%. 

• The number of planning applications to which the Environment Agency objected on flood risk grounds fell slightly to 5,198 in 2008/09 compared to 6,232 in 2007/08, representing 43% of consultations received. This is the first fall in the proportion of consultations objected to since 2001/02.

• Almost 97% of LPAs final decisions (or other outcomes) were in line with Environment Agency advice.

• 99% of the 68,350 proposed new residential units that were initially objected to were decided in line with Environment Agency advice. Only 573 units (less than 1%) were permitted against that advice.

There is no detailed South West information for any year after 2007/08.

2007/08 Trends

The Environment Agency lodged objections to 6,200 planning applications on the grounds of flood risk in 2007/2008 up from 4,750 in 2006/2007.

Almost all (96%) of these objections were removed after negotiation with developers and local authorities resulted in modified plans - the highest ever level of compliance.  However, local authorities granted permission for 16 major developments in England, including 240 homes and a primary school, despite Environment Agency objections on flood risk grounds. This was an increase on the 13 approved in 2006/2007.

100 applications for minor development were also approved contrary to Environment Agency advice nationally.

In the South West, there were 1,160 objections made by the Environment Agency on flood risk grounds in 2007/2008 - accounting for almost 19% of the English total of 6,200.  At a local authority level, the highest number of objections were made in Sedgemoor District Council (116 or 10% of the regional total), closely followed by Bristol City (100 or 9%).

Of the 16 planning applications for major developments approved by local authorities in England contrary to Environment Agency advice, 2 were within the South West - Carrick (mixed use) and Weymouth & Portland (residential).

An additional 21 applications for minor development were also approved contrary to Environment Agency advice in the South West.  These were in Poole (1), Carrick (1) Cheltenham (1), Christchurch (2), Dorset County Council (1), Kennet (1), Kerrier (2), Mendip (1), North Cornwall (3), Penwith (2), South Hams (2), Stroud (2) and Teignbridge (2).

• Environment Agency High Level Target 5 report

• Development and Flood Risk (2008/09)

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