Agenda item

To receive questions from members of the public pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 9.

Minutes:

The following questions were received from Mr Floyd:

 

With regarding to the development of Portsmouth Wood for residential housing we would like to submit the following questions. What flooding incidents has the Council recorded around the site and when? What actions has the Council taken and what further actions does it propose to take in order to solve the problem?What would have to happen for the Council to issue a stop order on construction, pending an independent expert examination with recommendations for a solution? 

 

Response from the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, Councillor Andrew MacNaughton:

 

1) What flooding incidents has the Council recorded around the site and when.

The Council records incidents of surface water flooding which are reported to them.  We have had historic reports of surface water run-off issues with this site and High Beech Lane.  These have mainly coincided with the historic planning applications for this development which date back to 1987. More recently the Council is aware of incidences in 2018 and 2019 when there was surface water run-off from the fields along High Beeches Lane and an incident was reported to the Council during the weekend of 14th / 15th November 2020 at Barrington Close.

Assessment of flood risk is based on on-site technical analysis carried out by qualified hydraulic and hydrological engineers who undertake a flood risk assessment and flood modelling.  Although anecdotal reports of flooding must be treated carefully they can be helpful. For example your email to the Council dated 20th Feb 2020, advised that the previous land owner of the development site had installed a large land drainage system to capture and direct surface water run-off from the area and this type of information helps to inform and support the flood modelling.

As a result of the flood risk assessment and flood modelling it is the opinion of the Flood Risk and Drainage Engineers that a few properties adjacent to the site are at a higher level of surface water flood risk under heavy rainfall conditions.

2) What actions has the Council taken and what further actions does it propose to take in order to solve the problem.

It is important to note that High Beeches Lane and the surrounding area was affected by incidents of surface water flooding prior to the commencement of the development of the adjacent site. The recent incidents of surface water flooding have been caused by rain deluges and have not been caused by works at the adjacent development site. 

The developer of this site is under no obligation to improve the existing flood risk.  The only thing the developer must do, is not make the existing flood risk any worse.  This is achieved by capturing all of the surface water that falls upon its impermeable areas (roads, roofs, etc.), and holding it in an attenuation system.

The Council takes drainage matters seriously. The issues of surface water drainage on the Portsmouth Wood site were assessed as part of the determination of the planning application. The permitted development and its drainage scheme has been carefully considered and designed by flood risk and drainage engineers in line with current best practice and guidance.  The Council’s Flood Risk and Drainage Engineers are satisfied that the proposed drainage system is compliant and suitable for the proposed development.

In the interim, given the recent flooding incidents, Council officers have been working with the developer to instigate temporary measures to help prevent further incidents during the construction period and before the approved permanent drainage works are constructed. 

3) What would have to happen for the Council to issue a stop order on construction, pending an independent expert examination with recommendations for a solution.

Enforcement action can only be taken when there is a breach of planning control. In this instance the development benefits from planning permission and there has been no breach of planning control. There are therefore no powers to require the works on the site to stop.

 

Mr Floyd raised a subsequent query relating to flooding that took place on 3 December at this site. The site manager had concerns with the volume of water in the drainage gulley and the water pump continued until 7pm.  Mr Floyd noted that the Council is of the opinion that the cause is surface water but he felt this volume illustrated it came from an underground spring caused by excavation work and sought further comment from the Cabinet Member on this matter. The Cabinet Member agreed to provide a written response.