Fears 900-home estate could worsen flooding

Plans for a 900-home development risk making flooding on neighbouring streets significantly worse, a group of residents have warned.

Mulberry Developments has submitted plans for the estate, a primary school and local centre on land south of Uppingham Road in Bushby, Leicestershire.

Melanie Wakley, from Thurnby and Bushby Parish Council, said residents had raised concerns that floodwater, which has trapped people in their homes in recent years, will get worse due to the project.

A spokesperson for Harborough District Council, which will make a decision on the proposal, said the opinions of residents will be "an important part of the decision process".

The group, made up mostly of people who live in Wintersdale Road, in nearby Thurnby Lodge, said building on the land would cause more water to run off into a stream that runs through the residential area.

They said heavy rain has caused water to pool on the fields before draining into Bushby Brook, which has burst its banks in recent years.

Regarding a recent flood, Wakley, who is part of the residents' group, said: "I spoke to one old gentleman who had been paddling around in water nearly up to his knees whilst trying to care for his disabled wife.

"Some residents also moved out of their homes for several months waiting for the water level to go down and their properties to be made habitable again."

She said a group of them had delivered their letters of concern to Adrian Eastwood, head of service development at Harborough District Council.

"Building on those fields will only make the flooding worse," she said.

The Environment Agency, which was previously consulted as part of Mulberry's plans, said: "The development falls within flood zone 1 and therefore we have no fluvial flood risk concerns associated with the site".

A council spokesperson said the application is expected to be decided this summer and the Flood Authority's comments will be considered along with those from residents.

Mulberry Developments declined to comment.

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