A House of Commons all-party Select Committee of MPs criticised the Government for failing to accept expert advice on new housing initiatives proposed for areas at risk of flooding.
The Select Committee report also claims ministers have failed to provide a robust appraisal of the pollution watchdog, the Environment Agency, and are sceptical over its achievements. It is believed they want the Agency's role changed to take account of the Government's sustainability agenda and the challenges of climate change. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee also called for tougher sentences for environmental offenders.
To minimise flood risk, the Committee urged the Government to give the Agency statutory consultee status for planning applications for developments in those areas where there is a danger of flooding. This would mean that significant housing developments in flood plains proposed against the Agency's advice would be referred to Ministers.
The Agency estimates that over five million people and two million homes and businesses are currently at risk of flooding in England and Wales, with assets valued at £250 billion. The Agency also told the Committee that flood risk could increase as much as 20 fold in the future, due to the effects of climate change. In 2004, at least 693 houses were built in flood risk areas against Agency advice and it is estimated that the Agency is consulted in fewer than 60% of applications where there is a risk of flooding.
According to the Committee, the Government needs to increase the Agency's funding in the area of flood defence work to £1 billion per year in the long-term. It also urged that much more should be done to deter environmental offenders. Among the changes the Committee would like to see are much higher fines for companies that commit environmental crimes.
A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: "The committee report is out of date. In fact, we announced last year that we would make the Environment Agency a statutory consultee on all significant planning applications in areas at risk of flooding. We have already consulted on this proposal and will implement it shortly."
Source: www.24dash.com
Lovell was selected by Peddars Way Housing Association to start in June on a £1.7 million scheme to build 20 new homes in Watton. The development will consist of two-, three-, and four-bedroom houses. Thirteen of the homes will be for affordable rent while the remainder will be offered for sale on a shared ownership basis through the Housing Association. The new homes are set to be finished in March 2007.
Lovell is also building 34 new homes for Peddars Way Housing Association at Mulbarton, near Norwich. Work has just started on the £2.3 million scheme, which will create 15 one- and two-bedroom flats and 19 two- and three-bedroom houses. Twenty-eight of the homes will be for affordable rent, with six of the houses available for sale on a shared ownership basis. The development is scheduled for completion in May 2007.
Homes at both developments will be built to achieve a 'Very Good' rating on the EcoHomes scale for assessing environmental performance. This means the new housing will be energy-efficient and designed to have a minimal impact on the environment.
Building work was completed on a £1.4 million Broadland Housing Association scheme in North Norfolk. A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the official completion of Broughton Close in Hindolveston, comprising 15 affordable homes for rent and shared ownership.
The £1.4m development has been built in line with North Norfolk District Council's Exception Policy, which means the homes will remain, in perpetuity, exclusively for young people and families who come from Hindolveston or the surrounding parishes of Wood Norton, Swanton Novers, Melton Constable, or Thurning.
The official opening took place of the first show home on The Green, a new housing development near Chesterfield by Lovell. A total of 90, two-, three-, and four-bedroom houses are being developed on the site. They include 27 homes to be offered for shared ownership through East Midlands Housing.
Lovell used the occasion to donate a cheque for £10,000 towards an appeal to rebuild the nearby St Barnabas Community Centre. East Midlands Housing also made a donation to the appeal. The new centre will be used to support community learning and training initiatives, and group activities for all ages, and to provide space for advisory and support groups.
Work started on a £4 million regeneration scheme in Mansfield Woodhouse, which will see 150 terraced properties replaced by 50 affordable homes. The project is a development of Nottingham Community Housing Association, Mansfield Council, East Midlands Housing, and Westleigh Developments.
Hackney Council agreed a £20 million contract with contractor United Houses to build the last stage of its mixed-tenure Holly Street development, providing 135 dwellings of which 40 will be social housing.
Wates Living Space was awarded a £5 million contract by Birmingham Council to refurbish 240 homes in four tower blocks at Ladywood, including replacement windows and new roofs.
Sovereign Housing will manage 79 affordable homes, which will be part of a new development on the site of an historic cattle market in Chippenham. The developer is Linden Homes. One of the eco-friendly features will be a bio-retention scheme to drain water into ponds and planting areas instead of into storm sewers.
The largest brownfield site ever acquired by a single housing association in Scotland is to include more than 100 affordable homes in a £45 million mixed development. Cordale Housing Association bought the land, in West Dunbartonshire, with support from Communities Scotland.
Plans are in place to transform the site, which was once the site of silk dye factories, into a £45 million housing development. Over the next five years, Cordale Housing Association expects to create around 100 jobs. The Association secured outline planning permission for 280 properties, including 112 for rent or low-cost ownership.
