'Flooding' homes decision delayed as councillors demand answers

ANGRY councillors have demanded further investigations before they will give the green light for people to move into a development accused of flooding neighbouring properties.

The 45 affordable homes in Fawley Road, Hythe, are mostly complete but have lain empty amid a row over drainage that was built at odds with plans approved in 2015 and is blamed for damaging nearby buildings.

A revised drainage scheme was slated for approval by New Forest District Council’s planning committee yesterday (Wednesday) – but members declined to allow it, instead calling for proof that the changes would solve the complaints.

They berated developer Vivid Homes for not sticking to the original proposals, forcing a public apology to the meeting from its director of new business and development, Mike Shepherd.

Cllr Maureen Holding stormed: “We have got people who are desperate to move in and I think this builder should be condemned for what they have done. They cannot get away with this.”

But Vivid Homes’ Simon Jones Parry said there would be a better result with the new, pricier design which replaces a swale, or drainage pond, with a pair of deeper soakaways – covered holes filled with rubble to help water percolate into the earth.

If the swale in the northern part of the site had been built it could have posed a flooding risk to some of the new homes, said Mr Jones Parry.

The worst affected neighbour is John Penny of Forest Lodge Farm, which lies at the bottom of a steep slope on the eastern side of the development. He has reported flooding and damage to buildings that never occurred before the new homes.

He told the meeting: “I have constructed all my buildings and they have been pretty dry. The only factor that’s changed is the development above me. There’s not been the comprehensive investigation, so they can’t say they are not responsible.”

Councillors were unconvinced by expert opinion from all sides which fell short of either fully blaming or exonerating Vivid Homes’ development.

Jim Peters, a partner of consultant Such Salinger Peter brought in to advise NFDC, told the meeting it was “not a proven case” that Vivid’s “best practice” drainage was to blame.

Flooding authority Hampshire County Council did not object but said it would need more monitoring data before commenting on flooding issues.

And Mr Penny’s own consultant, Herrington Consulting Ltd, said there was not enough information to determine the new system would solve the problems.

When Cllr Anne Corbridge questioned why NFDC had not stopped work on the development as soon as it was discovered, planning officer Ian Rayner said they preferred to see a new application to try to resolve matters.

A planning report admitted the situation was “far from ideal” but advised approval, saying the new scheme would not increase flood risk elsewhere.

But Cllr Malcolm Wade said: “For whatever reason this change was made they did not involve the planning department of NFDC. We have a duty to protect this. If we let them get away with this we are opening the flood gates.”

Several councillors called for the application to be rejected outright but Cllr Holding proposed a decision be deferred for further research. The motion was passed by 14 votes to two.

After the meeting Mr Penny said: “It’s the right outcome in order to establish a better understanding of what the system actually does. We’re going to have to get around the table.”

Mr Shepherd said he was “disappointed” at the decision, particularly as no objections had been raised by Hampshire County Council, Southern Water or NFDC’s consultant.

He added: “We will review the concerns raised by the committee prior to determining our next steps.”

Vivid Homes bought the site in 2015 after the original planning permission was gained by Burton Property Ventures Ltd.

As reported in the A&T, the houses were taken off the market when NFDC discovered the drainage differed from the original plans. The estate was later hit by a fire which destroyed a three-storey block of eight flats which ad to be demolished.