We certainly do not believe that there should be development in sites where there is a serious risk of flooding

Nick Raynsford

He said that if the trend continues the total number of homes at risk from flooding in England and Wales would rise from the current level of 1.8m to more than 2.1m.

Dr Mance told the inquiry into the effect of development on flood plains that "given the trauma and devastation" of the recent floods, "responsible planning authorities will not wish to place new developments at similar risk."

Breached defences

Later York MP Anne McIntosh told the hearing that 30% of her Vale of York constituency is built on a flood plain.

She said local authorities should take the blame where they have ignored advice not to permit development on flood-prone land.

"If you can show that houses and developments like a park and ride scheme have led to flooding which was not predicted, are you going to ask the planning authority to go back and make good where those flood defences were breached?" she asked the Minister for Housing and Planning, Nick Raynsford.

Mr Raynsford said a blanket ban on building on flood plains would force the government to build on greenfield sites.

Where there are adequate protective arrangements in place, such as the Thames barrier in London, development on flood plains should be permitted, but that did not remove the need for common sense:

"We certainly do not believe that there should be development in sites where there is a serious risk of flooding, and those sites cannot be adequately protected," he said.

Firmer action

Dr Mance said the Environment Agency wanted the government to "take a much firmer line to prevent development on flood plains" in the forthcoming Planning Policy Guidance on Development and Flood Risk.

And he said the Environment Agency wanted local planners to give preference to sites with no flood risk and set minimum standards of flood defence.

The Agency also wanted greater consideration given to the impact of flooding on power supplies, telecommunications, hospitals and other essential services, he said.