Conservative Member of Parliament Rebecca Smith is calling for Labour's support for a legislative change that would permit farmers to construct ponds without requiring planning permission. The proposal comes in the wake of the United Kingdom's hottest summer since records began in 1884, a period marked by severe droughts, wildfires, and water restrictions.
Smith, the MP for South West Devon, argues that the current planning regulations can classify pond construction as engineering or mining work, necessitating local authority approval. This process, she stated, can be time-consuming and costly, delaying measures that could enhance land resilience against both summer dryness and winter flooding.
Smith is introducing a private members' bill to simplify the process for creating small ponds, defined as those with a surface area less than 0.2 hectares, approximately one-third the size of a football pitch. These water features could also serve as habitats for wildlife.
"Britain has just experienced one of the worst periods of droughts. This winter will once again bring intense storms and heavy rainfall," Smith told the Mail. "Crops will be washed away and flash floods will hit households hard. Labour cannot repeat the mistakes of this summer and sit idly by."
She emphasized that the bill aims to cut bureaucratic red tape to enable farmers and rural communities to establish natural flood defenses and improve drought resilience.
According to Natural England, approximately two-thirds of ponds in England and Wales have disappeared since the late 19th century, attributed to urbanization and shifts in farming practices. Summer 2026 was the warmest recorded in the UK, with an average temperature of 16.5C. This makes the top six warmest summers on record all occurring this century. July 2026 was also the driest in England since data collection began, with only 7mm of rain recorded, or 10 percent of the long-term average.
Smith further noted the ecological benefits, stating, "Ponds are an underutilised resource. They can bring life back to our country, creating a safe haven for Britain's beloved wildlife." She urged the government to support her bill to bolster protections for British households against extreme weather events.
