To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he plans to take to prevent the building of new homes (a) in flood risk areas and (b) on flood plains.

National planning policy on managing flood risk was last updated in 2018 and is clear that inappropriate development in areas at current or future risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk, including floodplains, towards areas at least risk. Only water compatible or essential infrastructure developments are allowed in the functional floodplain, where water has to flow or be stored during times of flood. Where development is necessary in a flood risk area, and where there are no suitable sites available in areas with a lower risk of flooding, it should be made safe without increasing flood risk elsewhere and be appropriately flood resistant and resilient.

As announced in Planning for the Future, We will review our policy for building in areas at flood risk; this will seek to ensure that communities across the country know that future development will be safe from floods. We will assess whether current protections in national planning policy are enough and consider options for further reform.