Objections rise amid 'flooding' concerns at Haydock development

Last year, David Wilson Homes and Barratt proposed a huge 464 home development on land at Florida Farm South, which included a commitment to build up to 30% affordable houses on the 47-acre site.

However, as was the case with warehouse developments on Florida Farm, the proposals proved controversial and attracted an abundance of objections online.

Following further investigations on site, the council has now pushed back the deadline for public feedback to Tuesday, April 9.

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Objections rise as deadline pushed back

The development has caused controversy for building on greenbelt land (Image: eSCAPE Urbanists Ltd)
As the deadline for feedback has been pushed back, this has inevitably attracted many more objections being submitted to the council's planning department website.

Many of the objections relate to building such a large housebuilding project on greenbelt land, with previous warehouse developments also causing controversy and pushback at Florida Farm.

Some objectors say they are already experiencing difficulties in getting doctors and dentist appointments, so such a large development would need many more facilities and amenities, including new schools, to accommodate the influx in population.

The potential increase in traffic is another issue raised by the large volume of objectors, as well as concerns about the site's risk of flooding.

Flooding and drainage concerns

There have been concerns about the potential flooding risk on the land (Image: David Wilson Homes)
In addition to resident's objections, concerns have also been raised about drainage and flooding risks by United Utilities and Waterman Aspen.

Following an investigation into the Florida Farm site and a further look into the developer's planning application, representatives from Waterman Aspen raise concerns about flooding risks and that many of their queries have "not been adequately addressed".

One part of the Waterman Aspen assessment reads: "The report states that the [flooding] Exception Test has been undertaken however, the report does not detail fully how this has been satisfied.

"The report does not state the wider benefits to the community nor does it completely confirm the development is safe for its lifetime. There is no mention of proposed finished floor levels across the site and what the minimum level will be."

A separate point adds: "The [developer's] report concludes that the finished floor levels of the properties or road levels are sufficiently high to remain flood free however, there is no confirmation of water levels or property/road levels to confirm this."

Waterman Aspen acknowledges that tests and mitigation factors have been carried out, but suggests that more detailed and clear plans need to be drawn up before planning permission is approved.

Paul Hooton, a Green Party councillor for Haydock, also raised similar concerns, with the planning application relaying a scenario of potential flooding of up to 2.4 meters along the southern boundary, which  may affect housing on Avery Road, Avondale Road and Brookside Way and Vicarage Drive.

Cllr Hooton said he has raised these concerns with developers, and spoke of his dissatisfaction with the blurriness of some of the planning documents and that flooding calculations "end abruptly" on some of the pages.

Concerns have also been raised about the site's drainage (Image: St Helens Council Planning Portal)
Similarly, United Utilities also raised concerns after a review of the development's proposed drainage.

The water and waste company said: "We can confirm that whilst the strategy for the disposal of foul and surface water is acceptable in principle, there are elements of the detailed drainage design that might not be acceptable to United Utilities and will require resolution by the applicant.

"We request the applicant provides details of the position of our assets in relation to the proposed development.

"For this reason, and to avoid any unnecessary delays or costs for the applicant, we request that the proposed drainage strategy is not approved until such time as all concerns are resolved."

Representatives from United Utilities suggest that the development should not commence until a comprehensive phasing plan and schedule, as well as a drainage strategy for foul and surface water, is submitted and approved by St Helens Council.

What are the plans? 

The project includes houses of various sizes and affordable homes (Image: David Wilson Homes)
As previously reported, the plans to build 464 homes on the Florida Farm South site include a commitment of up to 30% being affordable housing.

The Florida Farm South site has already been allocated for residential development as part of St Helens Council's Local Plan to meet housebuilding requirements

The developers, David Wilson Homes and Barratt, say that the development will provide a mixture of 2, 3, and 4-bedroom houses, which would start with a main site to the north of Slag Lane and Vicarage Road.

The development is planned to be phased as the housebuilding continues, while associated roads, footways and parking areas are also proposed to be built.