Kentish Express Ashford & District
Flood fears over plan for 240 flats next to Outlet
East Stour Park development planned for land near the river
Plans for 240 flats have been met with anger from neighbours as they question the use of a floodplain.
East Stour Park, a project by Quinn Estates on land opposite the Ashford Designer Outlet, went to public consultation for the first time earlier this month.
In exchange for planning permission, Quinn Estates has offered a 30-acre site bordering the Asda car park, suggesting it be used as a wetland park.
The developers revealed the scheme’s original 300-home quota had been reduced by 60 following discussions with Ashford Borough Council.
Likewise, the maximum height of 10 storeys has been lowered by up to two floors.
Mark Quinn, CEO and founder of Quinn Estates, said: “Following talks with the ward councillors we listened to what they said and we reduced the height.
“It was more to do with amen- ity and the impact upon our neighbours.
“We’re looking at how much further we can set the buildings back from the houses and river, which means it has more room to flood.”
The major concern with the proposed development is flooding, which has been problem in the area in previous years.
Decades of waterlogging has blighted nearby residents - a problem that current neighbours fear could be exacerbated if the plan goes ahead.
Mitigation efforts detailed by Quinn Estates include attenuation ponds, into which run-off water can filter, with an ‘innovative’ design and lowered groundwork allowing East Stour Park to partly flood.
Mr Quinn said: “Categorically, less people are likely to be flooded because of our scheme and that’s a fact, not disputable.
“The Environment Agency has confirmed that.
“If you look at it, our land’s defended so if we take all the earth that defends the site away and let it flood our land, 130 houses are less likely to flood.
“You don’t need a degree in hydrology to understand that if we take the water on our land, our site will flood before the houses.
“It’ll happen very, very occasionally and when it does, we’d have emergency protocols in place.
“The undercroft car parks have been designed to be flooded and on those rare occasions there’ll be some areas closed off for a short period.”