Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many homes have been built in national floodzone three in each of the last 10 years, by region.

The Department does not hold figures for the number of homes built in National Flood Zone 3.

Estimates of the numbers of new homes built in National Flood Zone 3 within each region can be obtained by comparing the percentage of new residential addresses created that were in National Flood Zone 3, with the number of new build completions by region as published in Table 118 at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/850826/Live_Table_118.xls.

A table has been provided giving percentages for each region for all homes built within National Flood Zone 3, from the beginning of the new data series in 2013-14 to the latest year available.

All local planning authorities are expected to follow the strict tests set out in national planning policy and guidance, which includes steering development away from high risk flood areas. Where development in flood risk areas is considered, national planning policy is clear that it should be safe, resilient and not increase flood risk anywhere. We have been clear that new housing is not appropriate and should not be allowed in a functional floodplain, where water has to flow or be stored in times of flood.