Council dismisses developer's flooding risk claim - The Stratford Observer

Council dismisses developer's flooding risk claim

Stratford Editorial 17th Dec, 2015 Updated: 28th Oct, 2016   0

COUNCIL chiefs have dismissed a developer’s claims they raised the risk of flooding in Stratford.

Retirement housebuilder, Churchill Retirement Living, has hit out at Stratford District Council’s rejection of its plans for a culvert to help protect homes from flooding on Shipston Road.

The developer submitted plans to build 48 retirement apartments over 18 months ago – but the application is yet to be decided owing to flooding concerns.

Churchill say a culvert would provide improved flood protection for least 16 other homes on Shipston Road, as well as the planned development, but the council say it would merely shift the problem.




Churchill planning director Andrew Burgess, said: “As a developer we take our responsibilities to the local community very seriously.

“We have spent considerable time and money to find the best solution for the site in Shipston Road, and we’re disappointed the council has flatly turned down our proposals.


“The site and the proposed flooding relief mechanism is in exactly the right location to provide a unique solution to a flooding issue that affects the area.

“We fail to see how the council can justify not allowing this culvert which would ease flooding and mitigate risk to many local homes.”

But council spokeswoman Coun Lynda Organ rejected the developer’s argument.

She told The Observer: “Whilst the proposal clearly offers some benefits it does not alleviate flooding but simply moves it from one place to another.

“The council felt the sacrifices that would have to be made by blighting one of our prime public spaces at the Recreation Ground were greater than any public benefits that the scheme offered.

“We have no objection to the principle of developing this site but any proposal should be designed to include appropriate drainage systems to accommodate water arising from the site so that it does not rely on disgorging flood water onto valuable public recreation land.”

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