The developer’s appeal has been successful and has overturned West Northamptonshire Council’s decision to refuse the development proposal on the floodplain land east of the Meadows, Old Stratford.
Despite the Planning Inspector’s conclusion, local residents have legitimate concerns that were not fully addressed.
Below are some examples for emails to send to the Environment Agency and the Milton Keynes Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) to request that the flood mitigation strategy is reassessed.
Example Email to Send to the Environment Agency
Email address: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
Subject: Urgent Concern – Flood Risk from Development at Old Stratford
Dear Sir/ Madam
I am writing as a concerned resident of << Old Stratford/ Stony Stratford >> regarding the recent planning appeal decision allowing development on land east of The Meadows, Old Stratford (Appeal Ref: APP/W2845/W/24/3343140).
This site is directly adjacent to a floodplain, and residents are deeply concerned that the approved Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SuDS) is planned too far down the development site, in an area already vulnerable to River Ouse flooding. If this goes ahead as proposed, it risks failing during peak flood conditions, potentially causing severe surface water runoff into surrounding properties, overwhelming existing drainage systems, and increasing flood risk for Stony Stratford.
In 2023, Milton Keynes LLFA rejected the original developer’s flood risk calculations, citing incorrect figures for runoff and drainage rates. Despite this, the appeal decision has moved forward without an independent flood risk assessment.
We strongly request the Environment Agency to:
- Intervene to ensure an independent flood risk assessment is conducted before construction begins.
- Require relocation of the SuDS pond to higher ground where it can function effectively without being compromised by flooding.
- Ensure strict monitoring of surface water management to prevent additional flooding impacts on Stony Stratford.
Given recent extreme weather events and rising flood risks nationwide, it is essential that developments near floodplains are subject to the highest scrutiny. We trust the Environment Agency will take urgent action to safeguard our community from preventable flooding disasters.
I would appreciate your response on what steps can be taken to address these concerns.
Kind regards,
<< Your name>>
<< Your address>>
<<Your contact details>>
Example Email to Send to Milton Keynes Lead Local Flood Authority
Email address: llfa@milton-keynes.gov.uk
Subject: Flood Risk Concerns – Urgent Review Needed for Old Stratford Development
Dear Sir/ Madam
I am writing to raise serious concerns about the flood risk implications of the approved development at land east of The Meadows, Old Stratford (Appeal Ref: APP/W2845/W/24/3343140).
As you will be aware, the original planning application was rejected in part due to incorrect flood risk calculations, and yet this decision has now been overturned without independent verification. In particular, residents are extremely worried that:
- The SuDS drainage pond is positioned too far down the site, in an area prone to flooding from the nearby River Ouse.
- During high rainfall and flood events, the drainage system may fail to operate effectively, leading to excess water runoff directly impacting homes in Stony Stratford.
- There has been no independent flood risk assessment since the initial application was found to have incorrect calculations.
We are calling on the Lead Local Flood Authority to:
- Demand an independent review of the flood risk assessment and SuDS design before work begins.
- Insist that the drainage pond be moved to higher ground to ensure it remains operational during floods.
- Work with the Environment Agency to establish strict flood mitigation measures before allowing development to proceed.
This is a critical issue that could have severe consequences for our community if not properly addressed. Please confirm what actions you can take to ensure flood risk is properly mitigated.
Sincerely,
<< Your name>>
<< Your address>>
<<Your contact details>>
