Ickford: Flood Risk

Opened the debate

The MP for Mid Buckinghamshire raised concerns about the flood risk assessment and planning process, using the case of Ickford village in his constituency as an example. He highlighted that a new development was given permission despite significant objections from residents due to high flood risks, which has since been proven true with actual flooding incidents. Smith emphasised the need for a more rigorous system where local knowledge is prioritised and developers are held accountable. He called for changes to planning laws to ensure proper consideration of flood risk, local decision-making authority, and incentives for resilient development measures.

Government Response

The Minister acknowledged the severity of flooding risks and expressed concern over the insufficient engagement between developers and communities. He outlined existing policies within the national planning policy framework aimed at mitigating flood risks, including mandatory flood risk assessments for all proposed developments in areas at risk from any source of flooding. The minister highlighted recent updates to these policies to account for climate change impacts and increased resilience measures. Furthermore, he detailed significant investments made by the government towards enhancing flood defences across England, amounting to £5.2 billion, aimed at protecting an additional 336,000 properties from flood risks. The minister concluded by affirming the government's commitment to reviewing planning practices to better integrate sustainable drainage systems and mitigate future flood risk.