asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have plans to introduce a statutory veto for the Environment Agency for planning applications involving construction on areas designated as at high risk of flooding. [HL506]

There are no plans for the Environment Agency to be given powers to veto planning applications for development in flood risk areas. We have made the Environment Agency a statutory consultee on planning applications in flood risk areas and introduced a flooding direction so local authorities heed the agency's advice. Planning authorities and the agency must work closely together to achieve appropriate planning outcomes where there is a risk of flooding.