Better planning advice to assist authorities in taking future flood risk into account
more help is needed to ensure that houses are constructed with sustainable drainage in low-risk locations.
aids communities in reducing the effects of climate change in the future
Following improvements to planning rules, new dwellings will be better protected against floods, the government stated today (25 August 2022).
In order to prevent adverse effects on nearby communities, updated planning guidelines issued today will assist councils in ensuring projects fulfill tight requirements in areas at risk of flooding before they are permitted.
The action seeks to guarantee that builders in England can adjust to the difficulties presented by a changing climate and that new houses are environmentally friendly.
Greg Clark, the secretary of Levelling Up, said: “We have all seen how flooding is becoming all too common.
The capacity of councils to demand improved flood resilience in new projects will be strengthened by this new guidelines.
“Councils will need to show that the development will be safe from flooding for the duration of its existence, won’t raise the danger of flooding elsewhere, and will, wherever feasible, lower the risk of flooding overall.
This will ensure that our neighborhoods and houses are constructed to survive for many years.
Floods Minister Steve Double said, “We must do all we can to ensure that people’s homes and businesses are kept secure since climate change makes catastrophic weather events like floods more frequent.”
This advice will assist in ensuring that new projects are planned with flood resilience in mind and do not put additional areas at risk of flooding.
“This will expand on our record £5.2 billion commitment to construct about 2,000 flood schemes by 2027 and level-up defenses across England,” the statement reads.
It’s crucial that we prepare for a changing climate by avoiding risky new building in flood and coastal risk regions, according to Caroline Douglass, Executive Director of Flood and Coastal Risk Management at the Environment Agency.
The Environment Agency is crucial in helping planning authorities make sure that any construction is sustainable and safe.
The new guideline offers essential assistance to planners and developers on how to prepare for and adjust to coastal change as well as how to promote the adoption of more sustainable drainage systems to decrease surface water flood risk.
Councils will be better equipped to implement government policy, which states that new residences in flood-prone locations should adhere to specified criteria for flood resilience, such as using flood-resistant construction materials or placing plug connections higher up walls.
Additionally, local communities will have improved access to information on how to manage surface water runoff using sustainable drainage techniques to improve the region’s water supply and quality as well as the local biodiversity.
The advice also emphasizes the chances that new development might offer to apply natural flood control measures to lessen the causes and effects of flooding.
The government’s objective to level up and revitalize towns by providing long-lasting housing is reflected in the new planning guidelines.
Additionally, it will aid in the fulfillment of the government’s policy statement on the management of flood and coastal erosion risk and contribute to the realization of our long-term objective of making the country more resilient to flood and coastal erosion risk.