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North Kesteven District Council likely to approve plans for 35 homes in Digby near Sleaford despite flooding issues




Plans for new homes in a village which has suffered repeated flooding are set to be approved, despite residents saying they would undoubtedly make problems worse.

Grainfield Developments Ltd has applied to build 35 new homes in Digby near Sleaford.

The site of 35 proposed houses on Station Road, Digby. Photo: Google
The site of 35 proposed houses on Station Road, Digby. Photo: Google

North Kesteven District Council officers have recommended that the build on Station Road is given permission at a meeting next week.

However, the application led to strong opposition from local people, with one labelling it “insane”.

A couple who live on nearby Beck Street spoke about the damage flooding had caused in the last two years.

“We have witnessed a serious flooding catastrophe at the end of 2023 which caused considerable damage to our neighbours’ homes, and which came alarmingly close to our own home,” they wrote.

“In the last 36 hours, we have seen another potentially serious flooding hazard in the village with the Beck reaching the limits of its banks and with foul water visibly overflowing from drains.

“It was luck that the flooding did not get any worse on this occasion.

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“For these reasons, both my husband and I strongly object to the insane proposal to build an entire new ‘estate’ of new houses at the bottom of Beck Street/Station Road.

“With no plans for and tangible support for and increase in investment in the current water infrastructure, this will be a recipe for a massive increase in the village’s risk of flooding.”

Another resident wrote: “To build another large number of properties concentrated in one area, without any significant mediation and rectification to the existing flood defences and contingencies, would not only be negligent and unprofessional, but also undoubtedly callous.”

Others predicted that it would force water onto properties on Chesnut Close.

Another resident told the council the development would be “impractical, unsustainable and inappropriate for the village and would inevitably detract from what it is currently a pleasant small rural village”.

Councillor Amelia Bailey has asked that the planning committee consider whether it would create an unacceptable flooding risk.

A report by council officers says that the village already has flooding issues and further houses wouldn’t exacerbate them.

It will be decided at a planning meeting on Tuesday, February 4.



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