Concern over floods at Germany Beck homes site

8:16am Thursday 4th October 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Mike Laycock, Chief reporter

The signs near the proposed entrance to the Germany Beck development site The signs near the proposed entrance to the Germany Beck development site

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."

Comments(20)

nearlyman says...
8:41am Thu 4 Oct 12

One would imagine that this has already been taken into account by someone as this flooding event is hardly unique to the area. It happens about every ten years on a big scale, that is to say, sufficient for the media organisations to think it makes a good picture and story. Or was the land sold to them as part of a massive scam !

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notmyrealname says...
9:06am Thu 4 Oct 12

who in their right minds would ever consider building anything in this area !- the closure of this piece of road caused chaos for 3 days - can they not see this was a non starter from day one
Can't see there being a rush to buy a house here after all the national publicity- maybe they could offer a free rowing boat with every sale

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old_geezer says...
9:15am Thu 4 Oct 12

Raising the A19 won't suffice - firstly the amount of extra height proposed isn't enough, and secondly the drainage of the whole area needs improvement, not just site measures.

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hugohackenbush says...
9:27am Thu 4 Oct 12

If they raise the road. ? What about the existing houses either side.?

Would that aggravate the flooding for those properties and if so what provision has been made for them ?

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meme says...
9:52am Thu 4 Oct 12

This is a proper reason for considering the future of this development rather than spurious claims of a battle site!
Perhaps other land where there is no risk of flooding elsewhere should be allocated say North of York at Haxby or Huntington/ Monks Cross etc on what is percieved as green belt.
At least there is no flood risk but wait until the residents of these areas find out!!

Perhaps we will find the batle of Stamford bridge should have been renamed the Battle of Haxby centre!

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roskoboskovic says...
10:15am Thu 4 Oct 12

what is wrong with these people.even if the builders wanted the site,york city council should have refused planning permission.there were several reasons to do so including the flooding problem but of course greed was the priority so they got the go ahead.

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AngryandFrustrated says...
10:28am Thu 4 Oct 12

It defies belief that any developer would think that building on this piece of land is a good idea. It floods more regularly than every 10 years, and when it really rains, it floods extensively. Only companies driven by greed and profit would carry on regardless.

On the assumption that this Council will not take a pro-active approach and put and end to this planning farce, and the houses are built, at that point even more problems are likely to occur.

Firstly, a field has flooded. A field has significantly more ability to drain flood water away than concrete, termac and houses. If the water is prevented from entering into, and draining off, this piece of land, where is it to go to? It won't suddenly disappear and could give rise to flooding elsewhere in the area.

Secondly, and most inportantly, there is the question of insurance. Any purchaser of these houses will find it very difficult indeed to get insurance to cover flooding issues - even if they can find someone to cover them in a "red" flood zone, the cost will be very expensive indeed - if there are diffiulties in obtaining insurance, there are difficulties in borrowing against the property and therefore that in itself will devalue the development.

York may need more houses - however, the "lets build anywhere" mentality has to stop.

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BL2 says...
10:31am Thu 4 Oct 12

All the local residents have raised this from the start and it was ignored. Even with the flood defences in place the water was chest high on the road! It should never have been passed.

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greenmonkey says...
1:02pm Thu 4 Oct 12

"If the water is prevented from entering into, and draining off, this piece of land, where is it to go to? It won't suddenly disappear and could give rise to flooding elsewhere in the area." This is the key point, not the risk to the new houses. Last week 400cubic metres of water PER SECOND passed through York downstream, including spreading out across roads and land. Raising the A19 will either not be enough to prevent flooding or it will send more water downstream to Naburn, Acaster Malbis,Barlby etc
Although the application was approved by York Council the govt inspector and secretary of state confirmed the permission so to a certain extent it is now out of the hands of the council, unless it was to mount some kind of challenge to the existing permission on the basis of recent changes to planning law. Runoff from the new houses will go into an artificial lake at the lowest point that in theory will ensure this water is not released into the Ouse until after the main flood starts to subside.

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mrcharly says...
1:13pm Thu 4 Oct 12

The plans for the development include a bunded area between the houses and the A64, with a pumping station.

This is sensible; but it illustrates that the developers know full well that some of the houses will be built below the '100year' flood level. A level that has been exceeded twice in the last 12 years.

A very good point is raised about insurance; can the builders guarantee it will be possible to obtain building and contents insurance on these houses?

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Pedro says...
2:28pm Thu 4 Oct 12

I can only concur with most of the statements above. The scheme must be as dead as a dodo by now. While the location is great geographically, the risks will be too great for any potential buyer. On a positive note the new build city centre blocks have not been flooded (although access has been restricted) in the two big floods. So they got it right.

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pedalling paul says...
3:50pm Thu 4 Oct 12

I recall reading about a Dutch scheme to build floating houses, with flexible umbilical connections for utilities.

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Mullarkian says...
4:12pm Thu 4 Oct 12

Yeah Paul they're called boats!

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colette says...
5:07pm Thu 4 Oct 12

Not to mention - 700 homes spewing out vehicles onto an already congested road. And when it floods - what alternative routes have the builders considered for those living in their marooned houses?

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Stupidyorkpeople says...
5:58pm Thu 4 Oct 12

Councillor Keith needs to change his record !

The development at Germany Beck should and could be used to transform the area , improve drainage and traffic flow - it's not rocket science

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conwaykid says...
7:46pm Thu 4 Oct 12

meanwhile what happened to pilcher homes on this build

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conwaykid says...
7:52pm Thu 4 Oct 12

how can fulford schools take a 700 house schemes children,

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bob the builder says...
8:28pm Thu 4 Oct 12

Given that a percentage will be sold to social housing groups ( a fair number out of 700), who'd pay £300-£400k for a house to find that next door is a family on benefits in a similar house? Anyone buying there would have failed to do much research.

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MrChuckles says...
10:25am Fri 5 Oct 12

Oh dear! Well everyone has been saying this was the case, since the first mutterings of this truely moronic plan was put into place.
Part of me wants them to build the homes, simply so people with common sense can sit back and laugh with a dose of "hate to say I told you so".
However I know if these homes are built and ever manage to finally sell (long-shot) the impact on the lives of people who live in the area will be immensely detrimental.
To put it simply, the infrastructure such as schools, roads etc can not deal with an extra 700 homes.
Most notably, it shouldn't take floods such as those of the last week or more, to make that clear!

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Stupidyorkpeople says...
11:56am Fri 5 Oct 12

Germany beck - instead of 700 houses , build 200 homes for 500k-5 million . They would all sell - no one would complain , and Fulford school wouldn't be affected . (Bootham and St Peters may be ) . The builders could then build social housing elsewhere .

Darlings , one has to remember this is Fulford we are talking about

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