In the lead up to the 2015 General Election, Unda reviews the major political parties’ manifestos with particular focus on how they attend to address the issue of flooding if they come to power.  Pledges concerning their new build programmes over the coming years are also of concern when addressing the issue of flooding.

UKIP’s 76-page manifesto, called Believe in Britain, has been unveiled Nigel Farage in the Essex constituency of Thurrock.

 

So how does UKIP intent to address the issue of flooding?

The key points of  UKIP’s manifesto relating to flooding include;

• Refuse new housing developments on agricultural land.
• Replace the current National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and introduce fresh national planning guidelines
• Free local authorities from government-imposed minimum housing numbers
• Reverse current policies of facilitating large-scale rural residential developments,
• Promote smaller 6-12 unit developments in rural areas to extend existing villages
• Encourage local authorities to require a proportion of self-build plots to be provided in all large developments
• Allow large-scale developments to be overturned by a binding local referendum triggered by the signatures of 5 per cent of electors within a planning authority area, collected within three months
• Reduce the cost and bureaucracy of planning applications by merging Planning and Building Control departments in local authorities.
• Match-fund grants made by local authorities towards helping recovery from environmental disasters

 

Election 2015: UKIP Manifesto pledge on managing Flood Risk. Extracts from the Manifesto:

Protecting our countryside – pg. 35

UKIP will not allow new housing to strip our nation of prime agricultural land. This must be kept for its primary purpose, creating a secure food supply for Britain and for export.

Neither will we allow the countryside to be swamped by over-development: we believe strongly that our countryside must be preserved so it can be enjoyed by future generations.

We will replace the current National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and introduce fresh national planning guidelines that will prioritise brownfield sites for new housing and genuinely protect the green belt.

The NPPF as it stands is disastrous for the environment. It has given developers the green light to build just about anywhere and seriously restricts the ability of local authorities to refuse planning permission for inappropriate developments.

UKIP genuinely supports local communities having a greater say over what happens in their locality and we will:

• Free local authorities from government-imposed minimum housing numbers
• Reverse current policies of facilitating large-scale rural residential developments,
• Promote smaller 6-12 unit developments in rural areas to extend existing villages
• Encourage local authorities to require a proportion of self-build plots to be provided in all large developments
• Allow large-scale developments to be overturned by a binding local referendum triggered by the signatures of 5 per cent of electors within a planning authority area, collected within three months
• Reduce the cost and bureaucracy of planning applications by merging Planning and Building Control departments in local authorities.

 

CARING FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT – pg. 45

UKIP will match-fund grants made by local authorities towards rural capital projects, such as creating a lake, wetland, repairing traditional stone walls, etc. which enhance the local environment, encourage rural education, or help recovery from environmental disasters.

While we will abolish excessive and unnecessary regulations and directives, keeping those necessary to protect our environment, or replacing them with more appropriate controls, administered at national or local government level, will be a priority for us. We will take as our guide in these and all other farming matters relevant scientific and/or professional veterinary advice.

 

The main highlights from the UK Independence party’s list of policy pledges

Find out more about Flood Risk Assessment.