Homes plan refused because of Poynton Pool flood risk fears

Tim Emery applied for permission in principle to build the properties on a 0.98-hectare parcel of land south of Glastonbury Drive, known locally as the Glastonbury Triangle.

The lead local flood authority objected as ‘the site lies within high risk of flooding in the event of the Poynton Pool dam breaching’.

Poynton Town Council objected citing several reasons, including the site is part of the green belt and the environment agency’s flood risk map shows that the site is at severe risk should there be a breach in the dam at the nearby Poynton Pool.

Twenty-two local residents also objected.

They said the site is liable to flooding and would change reservoir criteria, adding if classification of the reservoir increases, all trees around the water body could be lost and works incurred would be at great public expense.

Their other reasons included no adequate provision of services and the impact upon the character of the area.

The applicant’s agent claimed the site meets the criteria to be classified as grey belt, but the council’s planners disagreed.

The decision notice from the planning officer states: “The site is located within an area at risk of reservoir flooding from Poynton Pool, which is a high-risk reservoir.

“Whilst there are separate proposals to improve the flood resilience and safety of the reservoir, the risk of flooding to the site would remain, and it has not been demonstrated that adequate mitigation can be provided…

“As the area is at risk of flooding and the flood risk is a strong reason to refuse the proposal the land is excluded from being grey belt, and the proposal is inappropriate development in the green belt.”