New flood map throws home plans into uncertainty

A new flood map has thrown plans for 265 homes into uncertainty.
A five-day planning appeal was set to begin at the end of July into Keepmoat Homes and Banks Property's plan for a new estate at Bowesfield Lane and Cygnet Drive in Stockton.
Stockton Council rejected the scheme in September following dozens of objections from local people.
Planning inspector Philip Ware said the appeal hearing would now almost certainly be delayed as the applicants were seeking to change their plan in the light of a new flood map issued by the Environment Agency.
'Flood zone fears'
Stockton Council said "putting the appeal on pause" for a redesign was not appropriate as the changes could alter parts of the plans which had lead to the refusal.
Stephanie Hall, representing the council, said the developers would not submit a revised plan until after September, adding: "The outcome of the revised flood risk mapping, implications for the scheme and therefore implications for the appeal are all uncertain."
Councillors had said the "cramped" development would make residents' lives a misery, with the proposals receiving 45 objections over traffic and harm to wildlife.
Objector and Ingleby Barwick resident Alison Ketch, 57, said there was no infrastructure, transport or parking services.
"It's a flood zone," she added.
Developers have maintained the site had very good public transport access and the plan would not impact on the nearby nature reserve.
Redesign implications
An updated scheme proposed the removal of eight plots, changes to seven and adding more green space.
It also suggested postponing the appeal to later in the year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
Pegasus Group, agent for the developers, said the site could not deliver affordable housing and an assessment was "necessary".
Mr Ware said he would either set a new timetable or urge for the appeal to be "withdrawn, redesigned and resubmitted to the council".
He said: "The unknown changes to the proposal could have implications for layout, flooding and viability – there are also a number of timescale uncertainties.
"All this could result in a significantly different proposal."