Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Gifford farm development on flooding via Parsons Drove drain in Huntingdon constituency.

The Environment Agency (EA) was consulted on the emerging Local Plan, which sets out potential locations for development in Huntingdonshire, and responded regarding the proposed Gifford’s Park site.

In the EA’s response, it advised:

• A detailed Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) and drainage strategy should be provided which addresses all flood risks including climate change.

• Only ‘water compatible’ development should be permitted in the small area of the site that is at flood risk. ‘Water compatible’ development are designed to be in or next to water so they can safely function in areas that flood.

• The FRA should consider opportunities for Natural Flood Management to reduce risk.

Until the above detailed work is provided by the developer, it is not possible to comment on whether this site may impact flooding specifically via Parson’s Drove Drain.