Agenda item

A report was presented on an application for works associated with areas 1 and 2 of the Preston and South Ribble flood risk management scheme consisting of new and replacement flood defences along the north and south banks of the River Ribble and other ancillary flood works, including: land re-profiling, landscaping and habitat creation, works to tie-in to the grade II listed Penwortham Old Bridge and railway viaduct over River Ribble, a temporary remote construction compound and temporary site access at Broadgate, Riverside and Riverside Road, Preston.

It was noted that the application is part of a wide-ranging Preston and South Ribble Flood Risk Management Scheme consisting of new and improved flood defences to better manage flood risk along the River Ribble and River Darwen to provide greater flood protection to approximately 4,800 properties across Preston and South Ribble.

The report included the views of South Ribble Borough Council, Preston City Council, Penwortham Town Council, LCC Ecology Service, the Environment Agency, Natural England, Network Rail, Lancashire County Archaeology Service, Lancashire Landscape Service, Historic England, The Marine Management Organisation, Lancashire Gardens Trust, United Utilities, the Lead Local Flood Authority, Ribble Steam Railway, Sport England, National Grid Gas and Electricity and details of 14 letters of representation received.

The Development Management Officer presented a PowerPoint presentation showing an aerial view of the site along the north and south banks of the River Ribble and an overview location plan. The Committee was also shown photographs of the various locations along the river bank and a visualisation of the concrete flood wall along Broadgate and the flood defence arrangement adjacent to Penwortham Methodist Church.

The legal officer read out a written statement on behalf of Mr Julian Edwards, Chair of the Penwortham Allotments and Gardens Association. Mr Edwards pointed out that although the Allotments were understandably low priority, they were a valued community asset which merited protection where possible. Unlike others affected by the proposal it was felt that the allotments derived no benefit or protection from the proposed scheme. Fundamental to the Association's concerns was the issue of land drainage and the possibility that the scheme might exacerbate other drainage issues and flood risk to the Allotments. Although the Association accepted the risk of flooding to protect other properties, it was felt that the proposed scheme did not optimised the steps to ensure the site returns quickly after a flood event. This included ensuring that Fish House Brook is dredged and cleared to facilitate the rapid return of the usability of the site in the event of a flood. He called for realistic, not theoretic, consideration of the Association's concerns and appropriate mitigating steps.

Mr Jonathan Croft, FRM Senior Adviser, Environment Agency addressed the committee and spoke in support of the application. He advised that the Agency had taken on board the concerns raised by the Penwortham Allotments and Gardens Association with regard to Fish House Brook and would be looking to improve conveyance through their maintenance programme.  In addition, the Agency had met separately with the Chair, Mr Edwards and the contractor to discuss the design and construction details and how the scheme would impact on the boundary between the church and the allotment site. Mr Croft went on to explain that the river system had been assessed locally using a state of the art model which had concluded that any increase in flood risk to the Penwortham Holme area would be down to climate change alone rather than the proposed flood risk management scheme. Mr Croft concluded by detailing the extensive consultation process that had taken place with over 3 thousand properties affected by the scheme. This included the Penwortham Allotments and Gardens Association.

The officer responded to questions raised by the Members in respect of the design and materials of the replacement flood wall. It was also queried whether any preventative measures could be taken to stop people walking along the top of such along Broadgate between Liverpool Road Bridge and Penwortham Old Bridge. It was noted that that the application did not extend to Avenham Park and its café, however, the committee was advised that the pavilion café was the subject of a bespoke improvement plan and that this was a separate matter.

Following further debate it was: 

Resolved: That planning permission and Listed Building Consent be granted subject to conditions set out in the report to the committee.