Local Plans: Climate Change

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government written question – answered at on 8 September 2020.

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Photo of Margaret Greenwood Margaret Greenwood Shadow Minister (Education), Shadow Minister (Education) (Schools)

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposals in the Planning for the future consultation, published 6 August 2020, on the response to climate change at a local level.

Photo of Margaret Greenwood Margaret Greenwood Shadow Minister (Education), Shadow Minister (Education) (Schools)

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposals in the Planning for the future consultation, published 6 August 2020, on the ability of local authorities to mitigate flood risk.

Photo of Margaret Greenwood Margaret Greenwood Shadow Minister (Education), Shadow Minister (Education) (Schools)

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposals in the Planning for the future consultation, published 6 August 2020, on flood risk in areas in close proximity to the River Birket.

Photo of Christopher Pincher Christopher Pincher Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Planning for the Future White Paper includes proposals to ensure that new homes meet our climate change and environmental objectives, including by ensuring homes delivered under our new planning system do not require future retrofitting. It also proposes to strengthen environmental outcomes: the National Planning Policy Framework will be revised to ensure policies support climate change mitigation and adaptation (including tackling flood risk), as well as creating places which are better-designed and more beautiful. When determining housing need, it is proposed that this will factor in land constraints, taking into account the practical limitations, including flood zones, that some areas might face in planning for the homes they need.

The Government is encouraging feedback from individuals and organisations as part of its assessment of the proposed measures. Throughout the consultation, my department will be engaging with MPs, local politicians, planners, developers, the voluntary sector and communities. The Secretary of State will update the House in due course once the consultation is concluded and proposals are prepared

Government has laid the revised National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England before Parliament on 14 July 2020. This sets out how homes and businesses across the country will be better protected and more resilient in future as part of our plans to tackle the risks of flooding and coastal erosion. We are currently reviewing our policy for building in areas at flood risk; this will seek to ensure 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. In terms of local impacts, local authorities need to undertake sustainability appraisal when preparing development plans to understand how their development proposals will help to achieve relevant environmental, economic and social objectives.

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