How to use the list of planning objections
Updated 3 September 2024
1. About the list
The flood risk data shows:
- initial flood risk objections made by the Environment Agency from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2024
- local planning authority (LPA) planning decisions recorded by the Environment Agency from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2024, for applications where an initial flood risk objection had been made – including cases where the initial objection was made before 1 April 2016
- if Environment Agency flood risk advice was followed
Note: this means the list of applications objected to on flood risk grounds before 2016 to 2017 is incomplete.
When we publish the latest data, we fix any previous data errors our quality assurance process reveals. This is why the published data may sometimes vary from previously reported summaries.
The water quality data includes all initial water quality objections made by the Environment Agency from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.
The list will be updated each year with the latest data, including:
- all flood risk and water quality initial objections made by the Environment Agency during the latest financial year
- all LPA planning decisions recorded by the Environment Agency during the latest financial year, regardless of when the initial flood risk objection was made
- data corrections identified through quality assurance
2. How to use the list
You can filter the flood risk data by any or all of the following factors:
- local planning authority
- development type or description
- residential units
- the year the initial Environment Agency flood risk objection was made
- the year the Environment Agency recorded the LPA decision
- if Environment Agency flood risk advice was followed or if the outcome is currently unknown
For example, you can filter the data for initial flood risk objections made in a particular year for a given LPA.
Get more information on an individual case by using the link for the LPA’s website and searching for the application using the LPA reference.
3. Summary of what the list shows
Between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024:
- over 96% of applications were decided in line with Environment Agency flood risk advice
- over 99% of homes included in planning applications were decided in line with Environment Agency flood risk advice
- 89 homes were granted planning permission against Environment Agency flood risk advice
Between 1 April 2016 and 31 March 2024:
- over 96% of applications were decided in line with Environment Agency flood risk advice
- over 99% of homes included in planning applications were decided in line with Environment Agency flood risk advice
- 2,649 homes were granted planning permission against Environment Agency advice
There’s more data and analysis in the Environment Agency’s flood and coastal erosion risk management annual report.
4. Appeals and other types of planning decisions
In some cases, applicants appeal against the LPA decision. The Planning Inspectorate publish these decisions on the appeals casework portal. LPAs also usually record appeal decisions on their planning public access website.
Some cases are taken over (‘called in’) and decided by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. See information on planning applications: called in decisions and recovered appeals.
The grant of planning permission does not necessarily mean the development will go ahead.
5. How the Environment Agency uses sampling
The Environment Agency records the LPA’s final decision for a sample of those applications on which it is consulted. For example, for the 8 years of flood risk data shown, the Environment Agency has currently recorded the outcome of about 64% of applications.
The Environment Agency uses a sample to give an indication of the effectiveness of local planning, without detracting from its efforts to positively influence development proposals. The Environment Agency is confident the sample is broadly representative of overall performance.