Controversial planning approval for Southwell site which has flooded in the past

Planners approved a controversial application for homes in Southwell before a flood model for the town is finished.

Members of Newark and Sherwood District Council's planning committee went along with the recommendations of its officers to approve the application for Beckett's Field off Nottingham Road with conditions.

The site has flooded in the past and is very close to the Minster School.

There were passionate addresses to committee last night by town and district councillor Peter Harris and local district council member Julian Hamilton.

Mr Hamilton argued: "During July 2013 Southwell suffered severe flooding to 250 homes and businesses.

Notts County Council suggested that it put in place a study for the whole of the Southwell area to understand the reasons for the flooding which was widespread and top create a water model to be able to see how different areas would be affected in the future by different levels of waterfall.

"This was an agreement or moratorium between various bodies including Notts County Council and Newark and Sherwood District Council that broadly stated that there would be no further developments until the report and the model had been published.

"What's all the sudden rush?"

The application was deferred by the same committee in December because it wanted to wait until the computer-generated flood model was ready.

The committee heard the model and accompanying report were still not ready and were now nearly a year later than promised.

A date of May has now been offered for their completion.

Mr Hamilton argued for deferral until it was ready and said the community's confidence had been hit by the recommendation to approve the application for 34 homes.

Councillors investigated this as a possibility but heard, however, discussions with consultants AECOM who are preparing the model for the council had since December confirmed there was no requirement for the application to be run through the model.

Committee chairman David Payne said the view was the site specific plan, which includes a swale and a balancing pond, was likely to reduce flooding levels rather than add to them.

He said the professional advice was the site specific assessment was far more detailed and accurate than the general assessment which would come from the model.

He said the model looked at the Southwell area and was not deemed the appropriate mechanism in this case.

Planning committee member Roger Blaney described the events of July 2013 in Southwell as of "Biblical proportions."

"The model is almost 12 months late," he said.

"It is fair to say Nottinghamshire County Council hasn't covered itself in glory and has left us as a planning authority in a pretty invidious position."

Mr Dennis Jones said it was the fullest flood mitigation report he'd ever read.

"What is clear is that this site has done all it can to manage flood water and run-off and doesn't add to the problems on Nottingham Road, it actually reduces them," Mr Jones said.

Mr Hamilton failed to find a seconder for his proposal to defer.

The application then went to a vote for approval and was passed on a 11-2 majority with one abstention.