Call for Government Collaboration on Flood Resilience
The government must deliver on its flood risk promises by fostering stronger collaboration between environment and housing departments, according to a report by independent think tank Localis. Titled ‘Plain Dealing Revisited – Planning for Flood Resilience’, the report highlights the urgent need for integrated action to bolster flood defences and strengthen planning regulations.
Continued Development in Flood-Prone Areas
The report reveals that despite previous warnings, development in flood-prone areas persists. Research by Localis examined the planning portals of 12 English councils with the highest flood risks, uncovering 7,116 dwellings in the planning pipeline during the first half of 2024. Of these, 1,006 were new permissions granted this year, with the remainder being previously approved projects still moving forward.
Additionally, 2,389 new homes were granted permission on redeveloped or repurposed land within high-risk flood zones, including 280 newly approved applications in 2024. These figures reflect a continuation of trends identified in Localis’s 2021 report, which recorded 1,104 homes approved in flood zones during the first six months of that year.
Alarmingly, the Environment Agency recorded 267 instances of planning approvals being granted against their flood risk advice in 2022-2023. These decisions underscore the challenges of balancing housing demand with environmental considerations.
Key Recommendations from Localis
To address these challenges, Localis proposes:
- Strengthening the Flood Resilience Taskforce: Environment Secretary Steve Reed is urged to expand the taskforce’s role beyond building new defences to reviewing existing schemes and incorporating resilience measures into planning systems.
- Bolstering the Environment Agency’s Resources: Localis calls for increased capacity to maintain flood defence assets and enforce stricter planning regulations.
- Policy Reinforcement: Housing Secretary Angela Rayner is encouraged to use the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and the revised National Planning Policy Framework to solidify planning resilience measures.
Localis CEO Jonathan Werran stressed the need for urgency, stating:
“Delivering up to 370,000 new homes annually while enhancing flood resilience is achievable but requires harmonised policies and a renewed commitment to joined-up governance.”
Industry Experts Weigh In
Sandy Forsyth, Localis’s clean growth researcher, emphasised the ongoing risks:
“Granting planning consents for flood zone developments puts communities at continued risk. As government rejuvenates the planning system, it must prioritise resilience to current and future environmental hazards.”
Caroline Johnson, Claims Director for Allianz UK, echoed these concerns:
“Floods devastate homes and lives, and it’s troubling to see high-risk developments continuing. While new housing is essential, it must be resilient to the increasing threats posed by climate change.”
A Balanced Approach for Future Planning
Localis underscores that government objectives to deliver 1.5 million homes during this Parliament must align with comprehensive flood resilience strategies. Sustainable urban planning, coupled with robust enforcement of regulations, is critical to safeguarding communities while meeting housing demands.
The Path Forward
As climate change heightens the frequency of severe weather events, Localis underscores the importance of coordinated efforts by national and local planners to prevent unnecessary development in flood-prone areas. Collaboration across sectors, increased funding for resilience measures, and strengthened policies are pivotal to achieving a safer, sustainable future.