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.
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