Written question asked by Steve Barclay (Conservative) on Tuesday, 18 October 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 21 October 2011. It was answered by Robert Neill (Conservative) on Monday, 24 October 2011 on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Property Development: Floods

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will assess the merits of including internal drainage boards and water utility companies in North East Cambridgeshire as statutory consultees when assessing flooding risk associated with planning development.

Answer: [holding answer 21 October 2011]: The Department have no plans at present to amend the statutory consultation arrangements for planning applications, as set out in the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2010, to require consultation with drainage boards and water utility companies on planning applications.The Government expect local planning authorities to work with infrastructure providers from an early stage in the local plan process to ensure that they are actively involved in shaping its proposals. Drainage boards and utility companies may also wish to work with local authorities to identify individual planning applications where consultation with drainage boards and water utility companies would be beneficial.

Secondary information