300 new homes planned

A SCHEME to alleviate flood risk in Uckfield is being planned alongside proposals for 300 new homes in the town.

Land on Harlands Farm and Bird-in-Eye Farm between the Harlands Estate and the community hospital has been earmarked by a consortium of three house builders as a logical site for the expansion of the built up area of Uckfield. Mr Peter Court, strategic planning manager for one of the companies, Persimmon Homes, said they already had options on the land and were looking at what benefits they could bring to the town with its development.

Two major issues had been identified, the need for a flood alleviation scheme and the need for a second access to the hospital. Both could be provided in development of the consortium's site, he said.

Mr Court stressed this was just the start of a very long planning process. The site was being promoted through the Wealden Local Plan currently being drawn up to cover development between the years 2004 and 2011.

'We are very excited about this project,' said Mr Court. 'We are not just a house builder looking to build houses on a green field site. We can go forward saying these are two of the things we can provide. It is a very interesting situation.'

Mr Jerry Muscroft, director of engineering company Stuart Michael Associates, elaborated on the flood alleviation scheme based around the Framfield Stream which cuts the development site in two.

Embankment

Ways of linking the two sides were considered and it was realised that by building an embankment - which could carry road and footpath links - it would be possible to control the flow of water down the stream to the River Uck.

If necessary the flow could be stopped altogether and the water contained on consortium land until the flood risk passed.

Mr Muscroft said simulations using an hydraulic model of the River Uck and Framfield Stream showed that the stream contributed 20 per cent of the water flow in the Uck and that controlling the flow could have far reaching benefits.

Mr Muscroft said the Environment Agency was aware of the work being done and agreed the proposals were sensible, practical and offered a benefit in reducing future flooding to Uckfield.

Mr Croft said a presentation on the proposals had already been made to Uckfield Town Council and the consortium - made up of Persimmon, Gallagher Estates and Heron - had been invited back to make a second submission and also attend a public meeting where townspeople would have the chance to hear more.