Environment Agency objections to planning applications based on flood risk and water quality
This list is to help with transparency on planning decisions affecting flood risk and water quality.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
This is a list of planning applications where the Environment Agency made an initial objection on the basis of flood risk or water quality. Many of these issues will be resolved before a final planning decision is made by the local planning authority (LPA).
The list is to help LPAs complete their annual monitoring reports and meet their reporting obligations to government under the single data list. It also provides transparency for others who may be interested in the role of planning in flood risk and water quality.
The data published is correct as of 31 March 2025.
The Environment Agency also publishes other data on its role in development planning. Its corporate scorecard includes a section on ‘Green growth and a sustainable future’. This includes a measure of whether local planning authorities are following Environment Agency advice overall. The measure accounts for all aspects of Environment Agency advice, including flood risk.
Whilst this list focuses on cases where the Environment Agency made a flood risk objection, the corporate scorecard measure also accounts for cases where flood risk advice was provided but an objection was not made.
The Environment Agency also publishes data on the timeliness of its planning responses.