Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will require local authorities to refer planning decisions where the Environment Agency objects for a call in.

Local planning authorities are currently required to refer certain planning applications where they are minded to grant planning permission. Such applications include proposals for major development in a flood risk area to which the Environment Agency has made an objection that it has not been able to withdraw. Full details are set out in the Town And Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2024.