Draft Local Plan - Supplementary Consultation

Comment

Representation ID: 10330

Received: 02/05/2019

Respondent: Environment Agency

UK Central Hub Site 19 - HS2 Interchange Site, Solihull The Holywell Brook, a designated Main River flows through the centre of the site with associated Flood Zones 2 and 3. In light of this the Sequential Test should be undertaken to demonstrate there are no alternative sites available at a lower risk of flooding. A level 2 SFRA should be undertaken to support this allocation. All development should be located outside of Flood Zone 2 and 3 as shown on the SFRA Climate Change Maps. A minimum 8m easement should be maintained along the banks for essential flood risk access and provision of a green and blue corridor. Site 20 - Lane either side of Damson Parkway, Solihull An ordinary watercourse (Low Brook) forms the eastern boundary of the site however our 'Flood Map for Planning' only shows the flood risk from watercourses with a catchment area greater than 3km2, mapping of the risk from the watercourse has not been undertaken and as such this is the only reason the site is shown to lie in low risk Flood Zone 1. The assessment of flood risk and easement from the ordinary watercourse should be agreed with the LLFA, however we strongly recommend that hydraulic modelling of the watercourse is undertaken as part of a Level 2 SFRA to inform of the developable area and capacity of this potential allocation. Regardless of flood risk, we recommend an unobstructed green corridor is maintained along the banks of the watercourse for the purposes of protecting and maintaining green and blue infrastructure.