Homes on flood-prone land gets go-ahead
PLANS to build almost 600 homes on flood-prone land in Longford have been given the go-ahead in a decision slammed as “unbelieveably stupid”.
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears yesterday issued her decision confirming that a 570-home development with a primary school and recreational facilities can be built on land to the east of Tewkesbury Road and north of Longford Lane – even though it is included in Tewkesbury Borough Council's green-belt protected area – and was submerged in last summer's floods.
She was commenting on an appeal from developer Robert Hitchins Ltd, which had attempted to overturn Tewkesbury Borough Council's non-determination verdict on its plans for the land.
Her report said: “There is a severe shortfall in housing land supply and this site achieved the joint highest score compared with the other major potential housing sites.
“The material considerations in favour of the proposals outweigh those respects in which they do not accord with the development plan.”
Her decision came just nine days after the Pitt Report into the floods which devastated Gloucestershire and other areas of the country last July.
But Ms Blears said the flooding fears were insufficient to stop the developer's plan.
Her report said: “We have taken into consideration the concerns about the impact on the capacity of the area to absorb and slow the passage of flood water.
“All the proposed development except two playing pitches would be in the zone of least risk and all finished floor levels would be set a minimum of 60cm above the 1 in 100 flood level. The flood risk analysis for the area is 'low'.”
The development will also only be allowed to proceed if an Interim Sustainable Drainage System (SUDS) is installed, to reduce the risk of flooding both on site and in nearby areas.
But the decision has been attacked by community leaders and left residents and campaigners dismayed.
Gloucestershire County Councillor Philip Awford (C., Severn Vale), said: “I think the decision is disgusting.
“It's timing is atrocious, coming almost a year to the day since the floods which submerged this entire area and the SUDS proposed for the site have been confirmed by Severn Trent water as being useless for the clay soil in this area.
“This area has acted as a sponge for rainwater in the past, so now that water will be hitting concrete. It's not just a matter of this land but the areas around it.”
Tewkesbury MP Laurence Robertson said: “It's unbelieveably stupid.
“I submitted photographs to the Inspector showing that at least part of the land floods but these have just been ignored.
“I also told the inspector that this site is not too far away from the Walham sub-station, which everyone knows almost flooded last year,.”
Longford Action Campaign chairman Bren McInerney said: “The main issues we were fighting it on, flooding, green belt land and increased traffic risks, have not been addressed.
“We have shown the flooding risk, which will effect the surrounding roads and leave traffic stranded like it did last summer.
“It is very disappointing. We will be reading and - the report to see if there's anything we can do.”
And Annie Lynham, whose Longford Lane property overlooks the proposed development, said: “It spells bad news for the future of Longford. It will double the size of the village. It will mean we can't get any insurance for our homes because of the increased flooding risk and will see massive amounts more traffic.”
No-one from Robert Hitchens Ltd was available for comment.
66 Comments
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by Alan, Gloucester
Wednesday, July 09 2008, 6:17PM
“This Hazel Blears and Robert Hitchens for that matter just dont care about Longford and its existing residents. I am sure the new houses will be just fine, what about everyone else?
This just rings of money, something very strange is going on here. This makes no sence at all - what a bunch of berks.
I will not be supporting Labour if this goes ahead. And I hope that the managers at Robert Hitchens and Hazel Blears herself perhaps bump into someone just like them in the future. Perhaps if it were their homes at risk the decision may differ somewhat.
WHAT A STUPID DECISION - Its not too late to change your mind.
Perhaps existing Longford residents could sue the developer if their houses flood in future? I”
by Jim, Longford
Monday, July 07 2008, 8:19PM
“This judgement exposes very clearly the lengths that local (Con) and central government (Lab) will go to, to keep property developers onside. The "strong" Thatcherite / Brownite economy is built on shaky foundations...and in this part of Gloucestershire, increasingly watery ones. If the political establishment had spent less time cozying up to their buddies in the City, we might have more flood plains and affordable housing for all.”
by Jim, Longford
Monday, July 07 2008, 8:00PM
“Interesting that approval for a new primary school has also been given just after the closure of nearby Twigworth school. Anyone from the Gloucestershire Local Education Authority care to comment?”
by Ann Manley, Longford, Gloucester
Monday, July 07 2008, 7:23PM
“It is ludicrous that this has been given the go ahead and I for one do not want to be flooded out and would not wish it on anyone else. The more you build on flood plains the more areas that are going to be affected, the water still has to go somewhere! Where to is the promise that green belt land would not be built on! I cannot believe that we have had to pay extra against our council tax this year to cover last years flooding for some stupid bird brained idiot to put more people's homes at risk. There are current mortgage problems, and insurance companies stating they will not issue policies to cover homes in flood areas. Yet this unbelievable woman thinks its a good idea to build here because of profit making concerned Robert Hitchins pleas. Which just about sums up the government and shows them as the most stupid, uncaring and absolute rubbish of a government we have ever had the misfortune to have running this country.”
by Alan Pearce, Rivermead Close
Monday, July 07 2008, 5:52PM
“It is patently obvious that our politicians and cabinet ministers to not aspire to live in the real world, probably too busy working out the next expenses scam that they can create.
An area under a metre plus of water and they are building houses that no logical Insurance company would contemplate insuring. Raising the land by 2 feet tells you there is a problem with flooding so where will this vast volume of water go,perhaps they are thinking of giving everyone their own swimming pool with sewage in abundance”
by Richard Kilby, Longford
Monday, July 07 2008, 12:41PM
“Crazy!! I'm sure the new homes will be fine - built nice and high, just like the Walton Cardiff estate in Tewkesbury. The simple fact is that the water that should be in the fields where these house's will be will now end up in my lounge... again! Last year was the first time our house had been hit but if when this goes ahead the rest of Longford will suffer big time and not just in sever years like 2007.
Maybe the builder will upgrade the whole drainage system for the area too, to help with the additional surface water.... not likely - he will make his money and clear off just like belway homes have with Cyprss Gardens. I can't believe this has been given the go ahead - I hope no one buys them!”
by Webmaster, Gloucester
Monday, July 07 2008, 12:27PM
“Test comment”
by Joe K, Gloucester
Monday, July 07 2008, 9:24AM
“Lady from the ARK, perhaps we shouldn't go down the Berlusconi route of making jibes based on people's names, whether real or made up.
For everyone else, hands up anyone who still doesn't get that the issue is *not* the new homes being flooded, but the effect on existing homes? Seems like a lot of people are not taking the time to read the replies before offering their opinions.”
by Jane Braithwaite, South Wales
Monday, July 07 2008, 7:12AM
“Are the planners completely insane? or are they getting some huge backhander to allow building on green belt and on a flood plane to boot! How in thier right mind would buy a house built on an area that floods? and who is going to provide them with household insurance? Total madness!”
by S, Cheltenham
Sunday, July 06 2008, 11:20PM
“Hey, Heifa, Hessen von whatever etc. Commenta are supposed to be about the stupidity of this planning approval and not the history of the SS. Hessen von whatever is only trying to do the same windup job as always. Let's stick to the subject and make sensible comments relevant to the subject.”