§ Mr. GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what estimate he has made of the area of land on flood plains on which planning permission for house-building has been granted, but on which building has not yet started; [137398]
(2) what plans he has to revoke planning permission for houses on land in danger of flooding; and if he will make a statement. [137397]
§ Ms Beverley Hughes[holding answer 9 November 2000]: Parliament has given the principal responsibility for allocating land for development, and for granting planning permission for housing and other purposes, to local planning authorities. Information on the number of unimplemented permissions granted in flood risk areas and the area the permissions cover is not held centrally. Revocation of planning consents is also a matter for local planning authorities.
Mitigation measures may adequately protect much proposed development in flood risk areas from risk and from adding to flood risk downstream.
In considering whether to grant planning permissions in flood risk areas, local planning authorities are expected to act in accordance with national guidance. Circular 30/92 ("Development and Flood Risk") requires that where flood defence considerations arise they should always be taken into account in determining planning applications, and local authorities should use their planning powers to guide development away from areas that may be affected by flooding. PPG3 ("Housing") provides that authorities should assess the suitability of sites for development against physical and environmental constraints, including flood risk. Local authorities are also expected to consult the Environment Agency and take its views into account before deciding planning applications for development in flood risk areas.
A draft of new planning guidance, PPG25 "Development and Flood Risk", which will revise and strengthen Circular 30/92, was issued for consultation in April this year. It will be finalised shortly.