ONE OF the borough’s strategic development sites for future housing has been criticised due to the risk of flooding.
On Tuesday, March 24 public consultation began for a 190-home development on the land south east of Finchampstead Road.
The area had already been selected as part of the south Wokingham strategic development.
But town and parish councils are now concerned about the flood risk to homes built at the site.
The flood risk assessment states that there are two areas within the site in Flood Zone 3A. This is a high risk area liable to flood from surface water flooding.
A spokesperson for the Wokingham Town Council Planning and Transport Committee commented last month on their issues with the plans.
They said: “There were major concerns regarding flooding, increased traffic on local roads and the disruption to wildlife, removal of trees and lack of infrastructure to support the development.”
The committee also said that the distributor road should be complete before development begins.
Cllr Maria Gee — who commented on the plans before she became the Wokingham Town Deputy Mayor — said: “There is a high risk of flooding in a line that runs across the development.
“One of the proposed mitigations is that there will be restricted discharge into the Emm Brook.
“I walk the land in this area, and the Emm Brook and its associated ditches flood regularly here.
“The environmental statement also notes that part of the site is in flood risk zone 3. It is unacceptable that additional buildings are being considered in an area known to flood, adding to the likelihood of flooding both in the development and in surrounding roads and streets.
“Due to the high risk of flooding, this land should not be used for any housing development, or any type of development that adds to flood risk.
“This is especially the case when climate change will add to risk of flooding, so historic records will swiftly prove to be outdated.”
The environmental statement on hydrology, flood risk and drainage states that without mitigation, the construction of the site will cause a significant effect on water quality and increase the flood risk to the Emm Brook further downstream.
And that once built, the Emm Brook could be significantly overloaded with surface water from the development.
But the report advises the use of siltation ponds and ditches during the building phase, and water flow controls after completion to manage the risk to create a negligible impact.
