A LEADING flood campaign group says a national planning policy shake-up could put peoples lives at risk.

The National Flood Forum, based in Bewdley, has raised concerns over the removal of a key planning policy in the proposed national planning policy framework.

NFF chairman Charles Tucker, who is also a Liberal Democrat district councillor in Pershore, said the Government’s draft changes to the framework document would see the deletion of a flood risk assessment.

Mr Tucker said the existing flood risk policy gives clear guidance to developers and planners on what developments should include.

He said that without this policy each council will have to make up its own mind on how to assess and take account of flood risk.

“Different councils have very different understanding of flooding issues,” he said.

“Letting them each take their own view on flooding will lead to more houses being built on flood plains and more houses with inadequate levels of protection against flooding.

“Every one of the 150 community flood groups we support and represent is put at greater flood risk by the withdrawal of PPS25 [the planning policy].”

Mr Tucker said “the detail, the definitions, context and technical guidance” of the policy has been removed while “some key words” remain in the proposed framework.

“Without definitions, the words have little value,” he said. “We foresee endless argument, where planners and developers tussle over the levels of protection required and barristers have a field day re-opening legal arguments closed by PPS25.

“Will anyone know whether the houses built are adequately protected against flooding – or other communities put at greater risk?

“Will the uncertainty make the new houses uninsurable?

“Does government really want to throw away a key part of the structure that helps protects its citizens from flooding?”