Flood protection measures will stop people traveling to new Horley housing development in ‘little boats’
Plans for 51 homes on flood plain land were approved after safety promises to prevent residents getting there in ‘little boats’ were made.
The site is currently used for grazing off Meath Green Lane in Horley and will also feature a traveller’s pitch and 18 affordable homes.
The extra safety measures include porous paving and houses raised above ground level – and the proposals have had the all clear from the Environment Agency.
The developers, Catesby Strategic Land, will also pay £36,608 for footpath improvements and a further £12,198 for biodiversity projects.
The site is one of a number released by the council to meet its housing demands.
Officers told Reigate & Banstead’s June planning committee: “The scheme is unlikely to result in harm to the neighbouring community.
“There are a number of existing dwellings near or adjacent to the site, however there would be appropriate levels of separation to avoid overlooking, loss of privacy and loss of light.”
On flooding, the officer said risks were low as floors would be raised and surface water managed through permeable paving to allow water to effectively flow through rather than gather and pool.
Councillor Sam Walsh (Conservative, Banstead Village) said: “The concern that I have is that we are actually going to be building on the flood plain.
“We need to be sure that we are rigorous in conditioning that it is building above the flood plain at sufficient levels to accommodate.
“People will say this is a one in 50 year occurrence but flooding and rain occurs.
“We are getting significant rainfall and that does impact on flood plains.
“If we can be rigorous in that condition, if something does get built, we’ll not end up asking people to go there by little boats.”
Planning members were assured that a 132-page flood risk assessment had been carried and considered in detail by the Environment Agency which said it was satisfied the development was not at risk of flooding nor would it exacerbate existing flood risk.
The plans were voted through by 11 in favour with one objection and two abstentions.