Flats to be built in Redhill despite flood concern

Council's plan for homes on the site of a former Redhill day centre.

Plans for 120 new assisted living flats in a Surrey town centre have been approved despite concerns about flooding in the area.

The draft scheme, proposed on the former Colebrook and Spectrum Noke day centre in Redhill which runs next to Redhill Brook, sits in high and medium-risk flood zones with risks associated with the nearby river and heavy rain.

The applicant and land-owner, Surrey County Council has proposed a six-storey building with around 120 self-contained apartments.

The development site is part of the council’s plan to deliver 725 extra care affordable homes by 2030.

Speaking on behalf of the applicant, Carol Bell said the project will “address the critical gap in the provision of affordable housing for older people who require accommodation with care and support”.

There were concerns that some of the proposed 120 new flats would be on the ground floor of the development and exposed to potential flood risks.

Councillor Catherine Powell said: “These people are vulnerable and elderly. I don’t want to be in a situation where these residential levels could be flooded.”

She added: “I’m genuinely not at all convinced we would safely be able to get people out of this building.”

Planning officers said the ground-floor apartments would be built 300mm above the high-risk flood zone and into the medium-risk area.

Not all the committee members were convinced there were risks with the project.

Councillor Ernest Mallett labelled his colleagues’ worries as “over consideration” and dismissed their concerns as “what might happen with a bit of water.”

He added: “I’m old and vulnerable. I’ve been up to my waist in water, and I’m still here.”