Low flood risk on Mill Lane housing site, claims report

There is little risk of flooding if plans to build new homes at Mill Lane get the go-ahead, says a report.

Consulting Engineers CampbellReith were asked to prepare a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment for Hockenhull Properties Ltd who want outline consent to build up to 36 homes in fields off Mill Lane.

Their report, submitted to Cheshire East Council as part of the planning application, admits that parts of the site along Audlem Brook are identified as lying in Flood Zone 2 (medium probability) and Flood Zone 3 (high probability).

But consultants say the Environment Agency is unable to provide detailed modelled flood levels for Audlem Brook which runs along the Eastern boundary of the site.

And it claims a flood risk assessment by the former Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council in 2008 stated that : "Audlem Brook, which flows across the southern side of the village is largely culverted, so the actual flood risk posed may be less than that implied by the indicative flood zones."

They add that their own detailed modelling of Audlem Brook confirms that the proposed development lies outside areas that could be affected by a once in 100-year flood event.

Their modelling found the development site "would not therefore be affected by fluvial flooding during a 1 in 100 year storm event" and added that "redevelopment for residential use would be considered sustainable in terms of Flood Risk."

They say tests also show that a drainage strategy can be prepared for the site to confirm that water run-off from the proposed development can be managed in such a way to ensure that it does not pose a risk to the site or its occupants or the wider catchment.

They concede that the development site, which is located upstream of the Salford Road bridge could pose a problem if storms block water flows under the bridge.

But they claim that their modelling of a 50% blockage of the Salford Road bridge in a severe storm shows that, although it would produce an increase in upstream water levels, the resulting floodplain "would not impact the proposed development".

"It is therefore considered that the risk of flooding from infrastructure failure is 'low'", the consultants claim

In summing up, the report to Cheshire East says: "Based on the information provided to CampbellReith the proposed redevelopment of the site for residential use would be considered sustainable in terms of both flood risk and the management of surface water run-off."

People in Audlem are invited to comment on the scheme by September 4th. You can view the plans and add your comments on planning application 13/3210N here.

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.