'Great doubts' about homes in Lincolnshire flood-risk village
Final approval has been given for homes in a Lincolnshire village, despite warnings they are in a high-risk flood area.
The 17 properties on Fen Lane in Dunston were initially given the green light in 2024.
However, the Environment Agency has now upgraded large parts of the site from low risk of flooding to medium or high risk.
North Kesteven District Council’s planning committee has set extra conditions, requiring that all of the homes be two-storey and setting a minimum height for floors.
Council officers said they were confident that the site wouldn’t be affected by water from Dunston Beck, even in extreme cases.
Developer AG Property Associates Ltd has commissioned local studies which they believe are more accurate than the Environment Agency’s national picture.
Members of the planning committee said they were uneasy with the change, but didn’t have legal grounds to reject it.
Councillor Mary Green said: “How mad can we get? The Environment Agency is saying this is now in [the highest-risk flood zone] but it should be ok.
“It’s mind-numbing to see this. But there’s not much we can do to negate it.”
Councillor David Suiter said: “I welcome the proposed mitigations, but still have great doubts about building houses on this site.
“I would have been happier if that was gardens rather than homes which were in the highest risk areas.”
Land is rated between Flood Zone One for least risk to Flood Zone Three for the highest risk, where development is tightly regulated.
Development manager Nick Feltham told councillors there was “very low risk” of any flooding actually occurring, and said the Environment Agency hadn’t raised an objection.
The application was originally approved in October 2024, but the final agreement hadn’t been signed when the flood risk ratings were changed, meaning it had to be re-examined.
Dunston has suffered from flooding in recent years, with some residents unable to flush their toilets for four days after Storm Henk blocked drains.
Residents in other parts of the village had to leave their homes and others reported having sewage water in their gardens.