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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to manage the potential impact of housing developments on trends in the level of farm floods.

Flood risk is an important consideration in the planning system. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk, including floodplains.

Where development needs to be in locations where there is a risk of flooding as alternative sites are not available, local planning authorities and developers should ensure development is appropriately flood resilient and resistant, safe for its users for the development’s lifetime, and will not increase flood risk overall.

In July 2024, the Government issued a consultation inviting views on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework in order to achieve sustainable growth. The consultation, which closed on 24 September, invited views on potential improvements to planning policy for flood risk. The Government will respond in due course.