MPs back call for new planning controls to prevent flooding

Parliament has proposed that there should be a specific presumption in favour of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDs) for all new development and that the Planning Bill should be amended to give local authorities greater powers to require this.

The proposals were highlighted in a report from a Commons select committee which has carried out an inquiry into last year's disastrous floods in Gloucestershire and Yorkshire.

The all-party group of MPs on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee also voiced strong backing for moves to change householders' rights to pave over their front garden without planning permission except where the surface is to be made from porous materials.

The report has supported a review of the automatic right to connect surface water drains and sewers to the public sewerage system.
MPs want any new discharge of surface water by drain or sewer to a watercourse to require the express consent of the Environment Agency.

"This requirement should be included within existing planning processes," argued the report which also said the vexed issue of who should own and maintain SUDs should be resolved "as a matter of urgency" so that the current house-building and eco-towns programmes can incorporate the maximum use of SUDs.

A Defra spokesperson said: "We welcome the report which we will now consider and respond to in full. Of course there are lessons to be learnt from last summer's floods, which is why in August we appointed Sir Michael Pitt to carry out an independent review.

"Sir Michael praised the emergency response and made a number of urgent recommendations in his interim report which we have already accepted. Last month, Sir Michael said strong progress was being made on the majority of these recommendations and that the country is therefore already better prepared for future flooding emergencies.

"The Government recognises just how important sorting out urban drainage is, which is why we are already consulting on who should take the lead on this and clarifying responsibilities in this area.

"In addition, in response to one of the urgent recommendations from Sir Michael, the Environment Agency has been working with local authorities and others to identify areas at highest risk from surface water flooding and the aim is to have an initial indication of areas that may, in certain circumstances, be prone to surface water flooding."

The MPs' stance on SUDs and garden paving has been welcomed by the Royal Town Planning Institute but the organisation has expressed concern that action to reduce the risk of flooding may be delayed by the progress of the Planning Bill, still months away from gaining Royal Assent.

RTPI policy director Rynd Smith said: "Local authorities need to be given the power, via the planning process, to step in and say to home-owners in flood risk areas that while they can have a paved driveway or patio area they're going to have to pave it in a way that doesn't contribute to flooding."

Read the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee press release

Roger Milne

8 May 2008