'Colossal stress' over farm flooding from new homes

John Penny said the stables where he kept two ponies were now “endlessly in water”

A farm contractor said he has suffered continuous flooding on his land since a new housing development was built next door.

John Penny, whose small holding lies downhill from the Kitchers Close development in Hythe, Hampshire, cited Vivid Homes' use of a different drainage scheme to the one originally approved by New Forest District Council as the major issue.

Sir Julian Lewis MP said his constituent had been failed by both the local council and the developer.

Vivid Homes said its "revised" drainage system had been approved by New Forest District Council, and the authority said it was "not at fault".

Vivid Homes said its "revised" drainage system at Kitchers Close had been approved by New Forest District Council

Mr Penny, 71, said he had no objections to the homes being built but he did lodge his fears about surface water run-off flooding his land on "numerous" occasions throughout the various planning processes.

He said the stables where he kept two ponies were now “endlessly in water” despite being swept out every day.

“As fast as you sweep it out, it comes back in again,” he said.

He said his hay barn was also unusable and added the continuous flow of water had "blighted" his life, causing him "colossal" stress.

Conservative MP for New Forest East, Sir Julian Lewis, said he was now considering raising the matter in Parliament

Sir Julian, Conservative MP for New Forest East, said “It’s every neighbour’s nightmare to find oneself next to an uncaring and arrogant developer who abuses the system and then uses the weight and the power that they have to crush the individual.”

He said the developer had "ruthlessly ignored the agreed plan and implemented another plan and the council, through its gutlessness, gave retrospective planning permission, even though I gather evidence of flooding had already begun to appear."

Sir Julian said he was now considering raising the matter in Parliament as Vivid Homes had been “utterly dismissive” of his correspondence to the firm.

Mr Penny's land lies below the housing development built by Vivid Homes

In response, Vivid Homes said the council confirmed its drainage system had been installed “in accordance with the approved detail".

“As a result, no further investigations were required," it said.

"If there continues to be issues with drainage affecting Mr Penny’s land, we would be more than happy to discuss with him, but have not been made aware.”

New Forest District Council said the Local Government Ombudsman concluded the council "was not at fault in their assessment of the drainage proposals".

“We have had no subsequent correspondence with Mr Penny with regards to any further concerns that he has with Vivid who are responsible for the development,” the authority said.

Mr Penny said his hay barn was now "permanently wet"