Riverside homes plan could worsen the risk of flooding, council officials fear

PROPERTIES WOULD HAVE TO BE ON PLATFORMS A METRE HIGH

- By EDDIE BISKNELL Local democracy reporter

PLANS to build homes next to a river in a flood-hit Derbyshire town are set to be rejected because there is a “significant” risk that flooding issues could be worsened.

The project, from Benz Bavarian, would see the motoring firm demolish its vehicle dealership in Tamworth Street, Duffield, and replace it with two four-bed houses.

Amber Valley Borough Council is set to decide on the application at a meeting on Monday, June 9, with planning officials recommending refusal.

Duffield flooded during Storm Babet in October 2023, including the flood wall overtopping, leading to the primary school and a retirement complex being evacuated and 31 homes flooding in total. The River Ecclesbourne reached a historic high of 2.15 metres.

A council report on the issue details that authority officials, including heritage experts, have fears that the planned homes would have a significant detrimental impact on the nearby listed Tamworth House and the River Ecclesbourne.

It states that the proposed homes are in flood zones two and three with one being the least risk of flooding and three being the highest risk.