Park homes plans thrown out due to flood risk

Plans to build homes on a field considered "highly vulnerable" to flooding have been thrown out by councillors.

A developer had asked for permission to build 31 lodges, or park homes, and a social hub on the land near Thorne in Doncaster.

But councillors at City of Doncaster Council said they were not convinced by WPS Developments' assertion that the flood zone maps were "inaccurate" and the Environment Agency's objections were therefore flawed.

Lea Favill, who spoke in support of the application to switch the land from agricultural to residential use, told members he "would be absolutely amazed if this site floods".

He said: "Flood maps recently changed and it's changed to the point where it looks very unrealistic, particularly when you look at the surrounding areas.

"It draws you to the east where the canal is and also the marina, both of these areas are shown as flood zone one."

Flood zone one is land that has a low probability of flooding, whereas flood zone three, which makes up the other half of the site, and which would have had the majority of the planned park homes, indicates a higher probability of flooding.

However, following the arguments from the applicants, the council's planning development manager, Emma Keefe, told councillors that "coulds, woulds and probablies" were not suitable evidence to override the Environment Agency.

Councillors refused planning permission for the site by a majority vote, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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