Pitt urges tougher development control in high flood-risk areas
Tougher control on development in high flood-risk areas is back firmly on the agenda following publication of Sir Michael Pitt's final report into last summer’s floods.
The report voiced strong backing for current planning policy set out in Planning Policy Statement 25, which says there should be a presumption against building in high flood-risk areas, taking into account all sources of flood risk.
And the report recommended that the effectiveness of planning policy should be kept under review "including the Environment Agency's power to challenge development".
The document, which has nearly 100 proposals, said that householders should no longer be able to lay impermeable surfaces as of right on front gardens and the Government should consult on extending this to back gardens and business premises.
Pitt's report has argued that the automatic right to connect surface water drainage of new developments to the sewerage system should be removed.
Also urged is a revision of the Building Regulations to ensure that all new or refurbished buildings in high flood-risk areas are "flood-resistant or resilient".
The report also reinforces the argument that developers should make "a full contribution to the costs both of building and maintaining any necessary [flooding] defences".
Where it is necessary to construct buildings in high-risk areas to meet wider aims of sustainable development, PPS25 requires developers to fund necessary flood defence and mitigation works.
Launching his final report, Sir Michael called for urgent and fundamental changes as the UK adapted to the increased risk of flooding. He made it clear that people buying property in flood risk areas should be made more aware of the potential of flooding.
Environment secretary Hilary Benn said the Government would deliver a detailed response including a prioritised action plan in the autumn.
In a related development the secretary of state has announced how initial funding promised to implement the Pitt Report will be allocated.
This will mean:
- at least 5m GBP for the development of Surface Water Management Plans in the highest priority areas
- at least 1m GBP to take forward mapping work to improve reservoir safety
- an initial 250,000 GBP to plan a major national floods exercise to test the new structures and roles put in place to ensure the country is better prepared to deal with future flooding events
The Government will also develop a Long Term Investment Strategy for flood defence with the Environment Agency.
Flood Recovery Minister John Healey said: "We reacted quickly and effectively to last summer's floods, making up to 118m GBP available to flood-affected areas, to ensure local authorities received effective support to help those in the greatest need.
"Local communities, individuals, businesses and organisations showed immense resilience and fortitude in recovering from this event, and have made tremendous progress over the past year.
"But I fully recognise more remains to be done. The Government is in this for the long haul, and will continue to do everything possible to help ensure this momentum is maintained."
Read the Pitt Review press release.
Roger Milne
26 June 2008
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