The announcement comes on the same day that new gidance is published outlining five steps that councils should take for ‘maximising the planning rules to better manage flood risks in their area.’

The five steps that councils will have to follow for deciding new development are:
* Identify what the flood risks are including river/sea breaches, inadequate drainage and surface water run off or sewer problems;
* Avoid risk by prioritising non-flood areas first for new development;
* Critically assess whether the need for a new development outweighs flood risk, including following Environment Agency advice;
* Control flooding using sustainable drainage and good design;
* Ensure all new buildings that have to be in areas that might flood are resilient and safe.

Following last summers floods the Government put in place tough new planning rules which prevent inappropriate building on flood plains.

As a result it is now compulsory to consult with the Environment Agency on planning applications in flood risk areas and where councils ignore their advice on major developments the government will intervene.

Sir Michael Pitt concluded in his interim report on the summer floods that these rules will prevent and reduce flooding - but the government has said that councils need to rigorously apply them to make sure people at risk get the protection they deserve.

ABI research has found that if councils apply flood planning rules effectively the cost of flooding could be reduced by more than half in the Thames Gateway and by 96% in other growth areas. Other independent research suggested it could cut the annual cost of flood damage by £18bn.

Planning Minister Caroline Flint said:
"We saw very clearly last summer the devastating potential of severe storms. We can't prevent heavy downpours or abandon those already living in flood plains but wherever possible we need to make sure councils are avoiding or reducing the risk of flooding in their communities.

"The Government has put tough planning rules in place for flood risk areas that we need councils to enforce. To help them we are issuing a 5 step guide to planning new homes so councils have no excuse for failing to protect their communities."