How these new maps of flood risk areas in Wales could prevent planning permission

Developers in Wales will now have to take climate change into account when building homes and wider projects, the Welsh Government has said.

In a UK first, developers will need to look at the risk of flooding and coastal erosion before building in an area.

Flood maps have been made to show the current risk levels as well as future problems posed by climate change, with the new rules coming into force in December.

Areas in blue on the maps show places at risk from rivers, with the deeper shade showing the greater the risk. Areas in green are at risk from coastal flooding and erosion.

The maps show that parts of South Wales are at high risk from both river and coastal flooding and should not be developed on.

Technical Advice Note 15 (TAN 15), as it will be known, will be used by the Welsh Government, local planning authorities and developers to direct developments away from areas that are at risk from flooding.

It states that new developments of homes, the emergency services, schools and hospitals, must not be built in areas of high flood risk without strong defences. 

The Climate Change Minister Julie James has said: "Serious flooding events are becoming more frequent and some areas currently at little risk will become vulnerable to flooding as our climate continues to change. 

"Improved knowledge of the places which will be at risk in the future can help keep people safe, by preventing the damage and disruption to homes, workplaces and infrastructure that flooding can cause."

Under the new policy, if a local planning authority approves a scheme against the advice set out in TAN 15, Welsh Ministers will be notified and will be able to decide on the application directly.

The maps are being produced by Natural Resources Wales and will be updated every May and November to reflect the latest modelling and data on flooding.