Decisions on planning applications around Southwell are put back for flood risk studies

Council chiefs have put a hold on some planning applications in a historic town hit by flash flooding.

No new applications in a specified area around Southwell will be determined by Newark and Sherwood District Council until the results of studies into flood risks are published and responded to next April.

Only plans in which flooding issues are deemed to have been adequately addressed will go before councillors in the meantime.

More than 200 homes and 20 businesses in Southwell were affected by flooding in July after an estimated four inches of rain fell in less than an hour.

There have subsequently been discussions involving a number of agencies, including the Environment Agency, Nottinghamshire County Council, Severn Trent Water and the Trent Valley Internal Drainage Board.

The county council set up an investigation into the floods and also commissioned specialist consultants to carry out detailed studies. In addition, the Environment Agency has supplied a rainfall analysis of the event and supplied this information for review to the county council. The Environment Agency has also commissioned further modelling work of the River Greet. All work is expected to be completed in April 2014.

The council will not determine any new or pending planning applications in the area specified until either the flood investigation is published and responded to, or unless an applicant can demonstrate to the satisfaction of agencies that flooding issues can be adequately addressed.