PLANS to build almost 250 homes on a Royston site which has previously been prone to extreme flooding have been submitted to the council’s planning board - but no residents responded to consultation.
The application seeks to build a total of 249 homes - the majority of which will be two-storey - south of Lee Lane.
Seven of the units will have two bedrooms, 95 will have three bedrooms and 147 will have four.
A design and access statement reads: “The proposal includes a range of house types of mixed tenure to meet local policy and housing needs.
“It provides for a wide range of users and residents to live in a safe and secure environment.
“The provision of a bus route and centrally located bus stop further enhance the opportunity for sustainable movement.
“The layout has been designed so that there is an elevated level of natural surveillance to both the public and private realm.
“This is reinforced by provision of active street scenes, a variety of materials and multi-aspect dwellings.
“Proposed plots are well laid out with parking either alongside or to the front of dwellings.
“This mixed car parking arrangement allows for landscaping in the street to compliment greenspaces and infrastructure within the public realm.”
The site has, as recently as February, been submerged under water and local residents and campaigners have serious concerns over the condition of the site.
A flood risk assessment has been carried out and deemed the site suitable and safe from flooding - unless there is a ‘catastrophic storm or blockage of the proposed drainage system’.
As a result of this, a number of flood mitigation measures have been highlighted - meaning none of the proposed properties will have any basements.
The document stated: “Incoming electricity supplies shall be raised above ground floor level and ground floor electric sockets shall be served by loops from upper level.
“In the unlikely event of flooding of the site, it would be appropriate to design external levels with falls to non-critical areas, such as landscape, where the water can pond without causing flooding to buildings.”
A pre-consultation period was held with residents in the local area - but the firm received zero responses.
They also claim the development will have a number of benefits for the town.
“The scheme will give rise to a number of economic, social and environmental benefits which are supported by the NPPF and statutory development plan and therefore contribute to the proposed application being considered as a sustainable development.
“No responses were received from local residents during the consultation period spanning from February 28 to March 14.
“For completeness and not withstanding the deadline for stockholder comments, the consultation inbox has been monitored up until submission of this application.
“No comment have been received to date.”
A total of 34 neighbours have been made aware of the application with no appeals to date.
Public consultation ends on June 13.
