More than 1,000 homes to be built on Norfolk floodplains

An analysis of West Norfolk Council planning applications has found that 1,223 properties are due to be constructed on undeveloped land in flood zones.

It comes as new housebuilding targets announced by the government have put significant pressure on councils to deliver more each year, with Labour calling for 1.5m to be built in the next five years.

The Parkway development site, where more than 200 homes are being built, was left waterlogged last year following heavy rain (Image: Submitted)

According to the study, conducted by the think tank Localis, there are 1,169 properties in the pipeline for the borough, with 54 homes also approved in recent months that will be built on land designated as either flood zone 2 or 3.

These locations include the 226-home Parkway development in King's Lynn, which has faced problems due to the site being waterlogged over the past year.

A damaged culvert has exacerbated drainage issues, although work has since remedied the problem.

The Russett Meadows development site in King's Lynn sits next to the Gaywood River (Image: © ARCHANT NORFOLK 2015)

Russett Meadows, a patch of land in King's Lynn that acts as a floodplain for the Gaywood River, is another site of concern.

Plans for 61 homes were initially refused by WNC but subsequently approved on appeal.

However, locals continue to worry about the implications of building on this floodplain, which they say helps to protect homes in the centre of the town from floods.

It follows the river bursting its banks last winter, leaving the Russett Meadows site heavily waterlogged.

Rob Colwell, Liberal Democrat councillor for Gaywood (Image: Rob Colwell)

Rob Colwell, Liberal Democrat county councillor for Gaywood, said: "This potentially puts lives at risk and leaves people living next to rivers in constant anxiety.

"We need new homes but we need new homes in the right places."

Elsewhere in Norfolk, homes being built on floodplains have been blamed for putting other houses at greater risk of floods.

The problem is widespread, with previous investigations revealing as many as 20,000 homes have been earmarked to be built in flood zones in the county.

Drone images taken after the Attleborough floods in October 2023 of the Gables development site (Image: Stuart Sharpin)

After Storm Babet flooded 130 homes in Attleborough and Besthorpe, many locals worried that a 350-home development being built on land known to act as a watermeadow may have made the situation worse as floodwater had nowhere to drain. 

Rob Kelly, water management director for the Norfolk Strategic Flood Alliance - a multiagency group involved in planning for and responding to flooding - warns local authorities need to be careful with the schemes they approve.

Rob Kelly, water management director for the Norfolk Strategic Flood Alliance (Image: Owen Sennitt)

When questioned on the issue at a recent flood preparation meeting, he said: "Planners need to be incredibly careful what they sign off. 

"There are numerous examples of properties being built in or near floodplains that now we are dealing with the consequences of."

Homes in Attleborough suffered extensive flooding (Image: Stuart Sharpin)

Nationally, figures from the House of Commons public accounts committee show 5.7m properties in England are at risk of flooding.

Recent studies have claimed one in 13 new homes are being built on floodplains.

Flooding in Spooner Row last autumn, a south Norfolk village that has frequent flooding issues (Image: Submitted)

An increasing number of storms and prolonged torrential rain has led to weather-related insurance claims reaching £573m. 

Homeowners are sometimes finding getting insurance for their property can be difficult if it is located in flood zone areas.

A spokesman for West Norfolk Council said that while much of King's Lynn lies in flood zone 3, the range of flood defences helps keep the town safe.

On the Parkway development, he said it is in a sustainable location and that a range of mitigation measures costing £2.5m have been installed to protect the home from flooding.

"These measures should benefit not only the new development but the wider area around it," he added.

However, Mr Colwell worries expensive flood mitigation measures could mean there is less cash available for community projects.

"Developers say there is not enough left in the pot to help fund things like school places or road improvements due to the high costs of flood mitigation measures," he said.