CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 19 homes in Lechlade have been given the green light by Cotswold District Council (CDC) – as long as adequate flooding requirements are met.

At the CDC’s most recent planning committee meeting, councillors approved the reserved matters application for 19 homes on land next to Moorgate as long as drainage requirements on the site were met. Lechlade town and district councillor Sue Coakley said: CDC had worked incredibly hard in really pushing developer Lagan Homes in making sure the flood scheme was robust and resilient.

“Unfortunately the people who live closest to the development would probably rather it not be there but considering the circumstances this is the best possible outcome they can hope for.” she said.

Lechlade residents were concerned when they heard about the Moorgate development due to problems in the past with another development at the Wern. in the past. Cllr Coakley said CDC had not made sure the flood scheme for The Wern was managed or maintained properly.

“We have learnt from that,” she said. “I am pleased that CDC’s drainage officer Laurence King has been able to recommend the drainage scheme for the land off Moorgate following amendments to the scheme. This, together with the flood mitigation works carried out by CDC, will ensure that there is a much lower risk of flooding in this area even in exceptional circumstances such as those experienced in 2007. The concern that the scheme will be properly maintained has been addressed by rigorous planning conditions.”

Visit cotswold.gov.uk and use application reference number 13/02642/OUT for more information.