To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many times the Planning Inspectorate overruled decisions to refuse planning permission for new developments proposed to be built in flood risk areas when the Environment Agency and the relevant local authority have advised against such a development in the last two years. (202969)

The Planning Inspectorate does not capture data to enable it to identify appeals that relate to development within flood risk areas. If a planning application for development in a flood risk area were to be referred to the Planning Inspectorate on appeal, it would be decided in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicated otherwise. All representations made would be taken into account, as well as Government policy set out in Planning Policy Statement 25, “Development and Flood Risk”. Each case would be determined on its merits.