National Flood Forum collated responses from local flood action groups, including Southwell Flood Forum and sent this letter (download) to the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government – our MP Rt Hon Robert Jenrick is Secretary of State for this department.
A major planning overhaul in England will allow ‘automatic’ planning permission for new homes, hospitals, schools, shops and offices that will force local authorities to allocate land for developments that will then not have to go through the full planning process.
Under the new process, land will be designated in one of three zoning categories: ‘for growth, for renewal or for protection’.
In the first two categories there will be a new legal ‘permission in principle’ approach for new buildings, it is understood. Areas of outstanding natural beauty and the green belt will come under the protection category where most new buildings will be automatically banned.
Communities which are vulnerable to flooding are concerned that they will no longer have a voice to contribute knowledge about local flood risk during the planning process.
