Context
In Mid Norfolk, a recent planning application for 350 houses on a floodplain was turned down by the council due to flooding risks but fast-tracked by the Planning Inspectorate because of Government house building targets. This highlights concerns about balancing housing development with flood prevention.
Question
What assessment has been made of the potential impact of the floods resilience taskforce on future planning considerations? In areas like Mid Norfolk, planning is key to avoiding developments that cause and exacerbate flooding. A recent planning application for 350 houses on a floodplain in Attleborough was turned down by the council due to flooding risks but fast-tracked by the Planning Inspectorate based on Government house building targets. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill contained nothing on flooding, which is why I am introducing a Bill. Will the Minister meet me and cross-party campaigners from affected constituencies, including some of my constituents now wading through sewage after the development mentioned, to talk about how we can integrate planning with flood prevention?
Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Samantha Dixon)
This Government will maintain the highest levels of flood protection while taking decisive action to fix our broken planning system and deliver 1.5 million homes through our plan for change. We will consider whether further changes are necessary to manage flood risk when we consult on planning reform, including national policy relating to decision making, later this year.
Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to meeting the MP and campaigners or provide specific details about integrating planning with flood prevention.
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