Bungalow plan branded disaster waiting to happen

The land is currently the site of a plant nursery

A councillor has called plans to build 42 affordable homes on the edge of a town a "disaster waiting to happen", as a decision to approve them was delayed.

The bungalows, off Barton Road in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, would be offered at social housing rates to those over the age of 55.

Fenland District Council officers had recommended the plans for approval, stating it represented a "sizeable contribution to the district's affordable housing needs".

But councillors at a planning committee on Wednesday said they could not make a decision on whether the homes could be built without more clarity over flooding issues in the area.

Beverley Moss, a representative of Boswell Developments Ltd and Housing 21, said they wanted to create a "real sense of community", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

She said the homes would address "a clear and growing demand... to meet the needs of an ageing population".

However, concerns were raised about existing issues on Barton Road, which planning officers said were the result of a water main being damaged by a developer elsewhere.

Conservative councillor Charlie Marks raised concerns about the new bungalows being built in an area that is partially in the highest risk risk flood zone.

Officers explained that the flood risk assessment submitted by the developer showed the finished floor levels needed to be raised by 30cm (11.8in) to 50cm (19.6in) to take account of a one in 100-year flood risk, which they said the statutory authorities were comfortable with.

Councillor Jan French, also a Conservative, said she believed the application was "a disaster waiting to happen".

The suggestion was made to defer making a decision so that representatives from Anglian Water and the Environment Agency could come to a meeting and give "more clarity".

Councillor unanimously agreed to defer the application.