FRESH doubts have been cast over York’s biggest housing development after last week’s flooding, a councillor has claimed.

Fulford councillor Keith Aspden said part of the proposed 700-home Germany Beck scheme in the village was on a flood plain, and a stretch of the A19, Fulford Main Street and the wider Fordlands Road area – from where the site would accessed – were blocked by floodwater for three days.

He said Persimmon Homes and Hogg The Builder had recently submitted changes to their most recent planning application for the development, which was originally given outline planning permission after a lengthy public inquiry in 2007.

He claimed Germany Beck should be re-analysed in the light of the floods and also recent changes in planning guidance for councils, which stated that “inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk, but where development is necessary, making it safe without increasing flood risk elsewhere.”

Coun Aspden said: “The scene last week of developer’s boards on the Germany Beck site submerged in flood water really calls into question whether this proposed development meets new planning guidelines and whether building there is appropriate.”

He said local people had been raising concerns throughout the planning process about building partly in a flood plain and how it would potentially affect other areas of Fulford. “These concerns were thrown into a new light last week.” He urged residents to respond to the latest changes to the application by October 19.

Andrew Bowes, managing director at Persimmon Homes Yorkshire, said: "Persimmon Homes and Hogg Builders (York) have worked closely with stakeholders and interested parties throughout the planning process, including Councillor Aspden and the Environment Agency. The issue of flooding was assessed in full as part of the outline planning application and comprehensive updates have been provided with all subsequent planning applications relating to the site, to which the Environment Agency has raised no objections.

"Councillor Aspden is also aware that the development proposals incorporate measures to deal with any potential for flooding including the raising of the A19."