Littlehampton riverside flats beat flooding "blight"

Ms Wood, who had warned that the Environmental Agency's "short-sighted" policies on flood protection were threatening the regeneration of coastal towns such as Littlehampton, won her appeal to build a block of 12 waterfront flats in River Road, in spite of strong objections by the agency.

The government inspector's decision follows claims by Arun councillors earlier this year that restrictions on building in flood-risk areas were "blighting" Littlehampton's future.

The businesswoman, owner of the award-winning East Beach Cafe, hailed the appeal verdict as "a landmark victory".

She added: "It's great for Littlehampton. The Environment Agency has been blighting development in the area. This decision says that the agency has to be much more positive in its attitude to flood risk in the future."

"Exceptional" design

Arun District Council refused planning permission for the scheme in February, on the grounds of flood risk, but councillors said they felt the design of the three-storey block was acceptable. It retains parts of the flint walls of a crumbling 19th century warehouse building in a conservation area.

Ms Wood said the flats, by award-winning architect John Pardey, were an "exceptional" design and would boost Littlehampton's reputation.

Planning inspector K. D. Barton, who held an informal hearing on the plans four weeks ago, said the gain in safety for the wider community, from the site's river wall being rebuilt as part of the development, outweighed the small risk of people being trapped in the flats for up to two hours in the event of an exceptionally high tide, expected once every 200 years.

The ground floor of the flats will be for parking only, with living accommodation at first floor level upwards.

In the summer, the Environment Agency announced draft proposals to protect seafront and riverside areas between Littlehampton and Shoreham, including multi-million pound plans to rebuild Littlehampton's river walls to prevent flooding.

Yesterday, Wednesday, the agency, commenting on the River Road decision, said: "We are disappointed with the outcome of this appeal, as the inspector accepted that a safe access route could not be provided in extreme tidal events for relatively short periods.

"Significant benefit"

"However, the inspector felt that the proposed repairs to the river wall would be a significant benefit to the wider community and occupiers could remain safe if they stayed in their properties.

"We will now work with the applicant to ensure that the proposed development is safe and there is an appropriate emergency flood risk management and rescue plan.

"The Environment Agency will continue to resist inappropriate developments in high flood risk areas in accordance with government policy, whilst accepting there will be occasions when there may be other issues which will outweigh flood risk."

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