Anger as council agrees new homes on flood zone at Claines, Worcester

Developers have secured controversial planning permission to place 52 properties on Old Northwick Farm in Claines.

The move has sparked outrage among nearby residents, who say the site suffers regular flooding problems.

The Environment Agency has officially classed the land as a flood zone, saying water affects "a large portion of the site", but withdrew an objection to the scheme after the site's risk was downgraded.

Terry Sims, from Claines Action Group, said: "This site is a flood area, we all see it with our own eyes.

"We've been bashing away at this for years but have got nowhere - I'm speechless by the decision, I can't believe it."

Mike Mullins, chairman of Worcester Lib Dems, who also tried to stop it, said: "All this money is being spent on flood defences in Worcester and they go and do this, it's perverse to me.

"The land does flood, and it will flood - it's outrageous."

Worcester City Council says the land was earmarked for homes in the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP), with its planning committee deciding to approve it due to the low forecasted risk of flooding.

The committee also agreed it because Bloor Homes, the developer, has previously secured permission to build on the land, before it expired without any work taking place.

The fields will feature three attenuation ponds, wetlands and an orchard to soak in water, and one bungalow on the site will be raised to a higher level.

The firm also promised to make 40 per cent of the scheme social housing.

Cllr Jo Hodges said: "The word that makes me a bit shaky is 'probability', because that's just a forecast - and against that we've got people actually seeing flooding with their own eyes, seeing is believing.

"Seeing the photos, there must be real concern it could flood. But it's difficult to argue with the expert evidence."

Cllr Geoff Williams, the vice-chair, added: "Flooding would have been looked at when it was put into the SWDP, and there was a previous planning permission on this site."

Cllr Alan Feeney added: "I'm torn between what the experts and the residents tell me."

The Environment Agency has classed the area as part of 'Flood Zone 1', meaning it can expect flooding less than once in 1,000 years and development may be acceptable if properties are above a certain ground level.

Flood zones two or three are deemed to carry greater risk and development on those "should be avoided where possible", says the agency.

During the meeting Cllr Roger Knight voted against, but the rest accepted it.