Flint puts forward new flood management advice

Thursday, 12 June 2008 12:00 AM

New guidance has been published by the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) outlining clear steps to be taken by councils to manage flood risks.

Prompted by last year's flooding the CLG has reached the conclusion the country needs better protection from the threat in the future.

As many as 11 people died in floods which swept large parts of the Midlands and south Wales in June and July last year - leaving as many as 40,000 families homeless.

A small proportion of these families have been unable to return to their properties a year after the event, the government has confirmed.

Sir Michael Pitt concluded - in the interim report on the summer floods - that new rules will prevent and reduce flooding, but councils need to rigorously apply them to make sure people at risk get the protection they deserve.

In response, the CLG has published the following guidelines:

• Identify what the flood risks are including river/sea breaches, inadequate drainage and surface water run off or sewer problems.

• Avoid risk by prioritising non-flood areas first for new development.

• Critically assess whether the need for a new development outweighs flood risk, including following Environment Agency advice.

• Control flooding using sustainable drainage and good design.

• Ensure all new buildings that have to be in areas that might flood are resilient and safe.

"We saw very clearly last summer the devastating potential of severe storms," said planning minister Caroline Flint.

"We can't prevent heavy downpours or abandon those already living in flood plains but wherever possible we need to make sure councils are avoiding or reducing the risk of flooding in their communities."

The Government has made around £88 million available to councils affected by last summer's floods to date, with further money to follow through the £31 million Restoration Fund, to allow councils to enforce the new action plan.

Commenting on the proposals, James Rowlands, Rics public policy officer, said: "Although local councils can do more to prevent inappropriate development on flood plains the government must also do everything in its powers to protect homes from flooding.

"Flood defences are not currently included on the list of nationally significant infrastructure in the planning bill and will not require a National Policy Statement.

"This change is essential to introduce a national approach to protection from flooding rather than relying on the existing but outdated regional system," he added.

ABI research has found if councils apply flood planning rules effectively the cost of flooding could be reduced by more than half in the Thames Gateway and by 96 per cent in other growth areas.

Chris O'Toole

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