it can
Re planning: If only that were true Martin. Around here (a flood plane area adjacent to river Trent) they have "allowed = given planning permission" for thousands of houses. Thus merging small towns into one. Not only that but 90% of our street have tarmaced or paved front gardens - they use for 2nd & 3rd cars. (Aside: it doesn't stop on-street parking either - we have a regular slalom to get out). Our neighbough has build a rebar/concrete based garage some 30 feet long - no planning permission.
We now have heavy flooding on roads that have never flooded during the
30+ year we have lived here. The Environ Agency have just finish work on a £55 million (true) flood defense wall for this area - however they seem to have forgotten about rising water which is appearing even more now. Couldn't be the new houses could it...