Flooding fears remain on agenda in homes battle

As previously reported by the Gazette, an outline application has been submitted by Northumberland Estates in Longhoughton for land to the north of Station Road, where the access road would be located, and to the west of the church of St Peter and St Paul.

The scheme would provide 12 affordable homes on site (20 per cent) as well as a commuted sum to provide a further eight affordable houses off-site.

But residents have highlighted current flooding on the site of the proposed development, which faces fierce opposition.

The most recent flood-risk assessment for the application explains that the only sources of flood risk are sewers and pluvial/overground flow, both of which are low-risk.

On sewers, it says: ‘Northumbrian Water record plans show that there are sewers adjacent to the site, but they have no records of these sewers flooding’.

Regarding overground flow, it states: ‘The vast majority of overland flow from adjacent sites at higher levels will be intercepted by existing drainage on the East Coast Mainline which runs to the west of the site. Any overland flows from nearby agricultural fields are unlikely to be significant’.

It concludes: ‘The risk of flooding to the site from sewers, overland flow and groundwater is considered to be low.

‘There are suitable means for draining any surface water generated in a safe and sustainable manner which will not result in increased flood risk either on or off the proposed development site’.

The scheme was first unveiled to the public at an exhibition in July last year before the application was submitted in September. At a meeting hosted by the parish council in November to hear the views of residents, flooding was one of the main concerns.