Select Committee on Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence


Supplementary Memorandum by the Environment Agency (EA 62(b))

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOLLOWING THE ENVIRONMENT SUB-COMMITTEE VISIT TO THE AGENCY'S SOUTH WEST REGION

  During the course of the site visit to the Agency's South West Region, members of the Committee sought clarification on an issue related to planning development control and also the percentage of England and Wales covered by the LIDAR system.

  As I recall the first issue arose when passing the Portbury Dock development during the bus journey from Bridgewater to Bristol City. Planning development control was being discussed, and in particular the incidence of Planning Inspectors overturning planning decisions opposed by both the Local Authority and the Environment Agency.

  Later on in the afternoon, during the presentation from our National Data and Surveillance Centre, Andrew Bennett asked what percentage of England and Wales has been mapped using the LIDAR system. The coverage to date is 4.2 per cent and this will rise to 5.1 per cent by the end of March 2000.

TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990

PLANNING APPEAL BY MESSRS G REYNOLDS AND E HADEN AT THE SITE OF 107/109 BIG OPE, CHISWELL, PORTLAND, DORSET

  In November 1998 an outline application was made by Messrs G Reynolds and E Harden to Weymouth & Portland Borough Council (WPBC) for the construction of a dwelling at Big Ope. The site is currently derelict (it is thought that the previous dwelling at this site was knocked down following flooding in the 60s). Records show that since 1824 there have been at least 26 significant flood events. The Environment Agency commissioned independent consultants to investigate the risk of flooding to assist the EA and WPBC in any planning considerations and they found the proposed dwelling site to have one of the highest risk locations in the area. The Agency's National Centre for Risk Analysis also found the area to be in the High to Very High Risk category, with approximately 200 dwellings in Chiswell at risk from sea coming through the beach and also overtopping the beach crest. The proposed property would front onto the promenade and be adjacent to the Big Ope, a road that acts as a floodwater relief channel. The property would be vulnerable to tidal flooding and also subject to damage resulting from wave and pebble strike action. Circular 30/92 advises a 1 in 200 year protection. The defences here provide less than a 1 in 10 year protection (no improvements to the defences are currently viable). In addition approval of this property and other potential properties will create new risks for the existing properties by affecting the flow routes and ponding areas of floods.

  In December 1998 WPBC refused planning permission on advice from the Environment Agency (Local Plan permits non-residential development, this is currently under revision).

  In June 1999 the Planning Inspector overturned this decision and gave permission for the development to take place.

Anna Burns

Parliamentary and Government Relations Adviser.


 
previous page contents next page

House of Commons home page Parliament home page House of Lords home page search page enquiries index

© Parliamentary copyright 2000
Prepared 18 May 2000