Concerns Raised of Flood Risk from Grove Park Development
Residents' group claims council considering reclassification of Hartington Road site
Developer's visualisation of the houses. Picture: Pilbrow and Partners
A group of Grove Park residents is raising concerns that a planned development by the river may be increasing the flood risk in the area.
Residence One (Hartington) Ltd has submitted a planning application to build 4 houses in the back garden of 17 Hartington Road. The application site covers an area of 2,750m2 including what is described as the largest garden in Grove Park which runs all the way down to the river.
The Environment Agency has formally objected to the development saying, “The development falls within a flood risk vulnerability category that is inappropriate to the Flood Zone in which the application site is located. The application is therefore contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and its associated planning practice guidance (PPG). We recommend that planning permission is refused on this basis.
The PPG classifies development types according to their vulnerability to flood risk and provides guidance on which developments are appropriate within each Flood Zone. The West London Strategic Flood Risk Assessment shows the Hartington Road site to be located within Flood Zone 3b (functional floodplain), which is defined by the PPG as land where water has to flow or be stored in times of flood.
The Environment Agency concludes, "Residential development is classed as more vulnerable and is not compatible with this Flood Zone and therefore should not be permitted.”
Map showing flood risk designation in the area
However, according to the NoGardenGrab group which describes itself as an association of over 200 local residents opposed to the development, the Hounslow Council planning department has asked its flood consultants to review the Flood Zone 3b designation for the garden on Hartington Road. The group says that planners have told them that they believe if the designation could be changed there would be no reason why the application couldn't be approved.
NoGardenGrab says in a statement, "This is extremely worrying. Surely, any attempt to change the flood zone designation should not be conducted under a cloak of secrecy? It needs to be fully transparent and independent of planning decisions. You should not seek to change the rules just because they are not convenient for developers. The implications are serious and far reaching for future owners of the proposed new homes as well as for neighbouring residents whose lives and property may be put at risk. We would like to see the information being used to review the flood risk designation put in the public domain so that we can all understand how the decisions are to be reached and have an opportunity to respond. So far our requests for transparency have been ignored."
The view of the end of the garden from the river as it is now
The group points out that the Environment Agency's categorical objection to the application would not be known about by most residents as it is not the borough's policy to publish comments made. The council says this is due to concerns about breaching GDPR but this would not apply to responses from a government body and the Environment Agency has said that it would like to see its comments in the public domain. However, NoGardenGrab believes the lack of dissenting comment or even independent analysis means that there is a 'dangerous bias' in favour of developers over the environment and local residents.
The aerial image shows the length of the garden to the river and proximity with Chiswick Staithe
The application has attracted numerous other objections about loss of trees, damage to biodiversity, inappropriate design and ongoing neglect of the main house.
The planning reference is P/2021/2827. You can make comment online at www.hounslow.gov.uk/planning or email planning@hounslow.gov.uk.
For further information about the campaign against the proposal email:nogardengrab@gmail.com.
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November 14, 2021