Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Not Addressed
Initiate consultation on statutory requirements for assessing cumulative impacts of development on flood risk.
Recommendation
We reiterate that the Government should ensure that flood and climate resilience are embedded into the core tools of planning, regulation, and investment appraisal. The NPPF should be strengthened to prioritise flooding avoidance and climate adaptation, mandating sustainable drainage systems and consider the need for property flood resilience measures in all new developments through building regulations. As stated in our recent report on flood resilience, the Government should initiate a consultation on statutory requirements for assessing the cumulative impact of development on flood risk within local and regional plans by the end of
Government Response Summary
The government's response refers to monitoring and implementation of the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF), which does not address the recommendation to embed flood and climate resilience in planning tools, strengthen the NPPF, mandate sustainable drainage systems, or consult on cumulative flood risk impact.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
43. As set out in our responses to recommendations 11 and 12, there are numerous legislative safeguards that ensure that implementation of the NRF will be robustly monitored. These monitoring and reporting requirements also provide the opportunity for both Government and external scrutiny of the ongoing impact and delivery of EDPs. We know from our engagement during the passage of the Planning and Infrastructure Act that independent and expert bodies such as the Office for Environmental Protection may wish to undertake scrutiny of this kind and we look forward to working closely with such bodies as we deliver the NRF. 44. In December 2025 we published an implementation plan, which can be found on gov.uk here, setting out further details on how the NRF will be implemented including the timelines and high level actions to be taken by relevant stakeholders. As we approach implementation, we will issue further detailed guidance on how the NRF will be delivered.