Local planning authorities are more aware of flood risk, survey finds

Local planning authorities are increasingly heeding Environment Agency advice over development flood plains, according to new figures.

However, the green regulator has revealed that some major schemes are still being approved despite its advice to the contrary. Last year, ten major residential schemes were given permission by planning authorities against advice about the threat of flooding. 

The Environment Agency has also expressed concern that developers are either failing to produce flood risk assessments or those that are prepared are inadequate.

The annual monitoring report on Development and Flood Risk has shown the performance of all Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) in England between March 2005 and April 2006.

These latest figures have been compiled by councils and the Environment Agency. They show that in cases where the EA objected on flood risk grounds and where LPAs informed the agency of the final outcome, some 95 per cent of cases were in line with the regulator's advice, up three per cent from the previous 12 months.

Barbara Young, chief executive of the Environment Agency, said: "Encouragingly, this report shows that LPAs are increasingly responding to the Environment Agency's planning advice and Government planning policy."

The monitoring report also indicates that the number of planning applications requiring detailed consideration on flood risk grounds fell from 4,600 in 2004/05 to 4,200 in 2005/06. Only one appeal was determined contrary to Environment Agency advice.

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Roger Milne

15 December 2006