Pitt says in 2007: There should be a presumption against building in high flood risk areas
Government says 2012: Government continues to recognise the importance of preventing unnecessary building in areas of flood risk and that new development that does take place should be safe and not increase flood risk.
Reducing the risk of flooding and its impact
Pitt Recommendation 2007 (pg 15 sec 7)
There should be a presumption against building in high flood risk areas, in accordance with PPS25, including giving consideration to all sources of flood risk, and ensuring that developers make a full contribution to the costs both of building and maintaining any necessary defences.
Update of progress to January 2012
Since the 2009 update report stating this recommendation was implemented the UK Government announced a review of national planning policy. The review is designed to streamline existing national Planning Policy Statements (including that currently set out in PPS25 on flood risk) into a single consolidated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
The Department for Communities and Local Government published a draft NPPF for consultation and is currently considering the responses. Government continues to recognise the importance of preventing unnecessary building in areas of flood risk and that new development that does take place should be safe and not increase flood risk. The policies in the draft NPPF seek to ensure delivery against these aims.
full document dated 01 Feb 2012 can be seen at http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/2012/02/01/pitt-review-final-report/