Plan for dream house on stilts set for refusal

By Tom Shaw - Nov 2007

A STAINES newsagent says strict planning rules affecting land at risk of flooding may prevent him building his 'dream family home'.

Bhosker Patel, who runs Savita News, by Staines rail station, wants to replace his bungalow in Wheatsheaf Lane with a four-bedroom house.

But he has been refused planning permission by Spelthorne Council on two occasions and fears he may fare no better on his third attempt.

Mr Patel, 49, said: "My architect says new rules about flooding mean that we would have to build the house on stilts and flood water would flow below it.

"With conventional buildings, flood water is pushed to one side, passing problems on to neighbours.

"Our construction method means we would take our share of floodwater and would not reduce the area's capacity to absorb flooding."

The newsagent has lived in Staines with wife Mina, 48, son Ritesh, 24 and daughter Anupa, 20, since 1983 and bought the bungalow in June 2006.

He said: "For years we have been trying to buy somewhere to build our dream home and we thought we had found it."

However, Spelthorne councillors refused planning permission in December last year and threw out a revised plan for a slightly smaller home in July, citing the danger of flooding.

Kevin Turner, who is acting for the Patels as a planning consultant, said the Environment Agency (EA) has drawn up a list of areas liable to be flooded once every 20 years, called Functional Flood Plains (FFP), which includes the Patels' site.

Flooding could be caused by the home's proximity to The Thames and its tributary, Sweep's Ditch, or by rising groundwater.

Mr Turner added: "Government guidance says urban areas should not be considered to be in the FFP because buildings and cars prevent floodwater flowing.

"Surely it would be an advantage to build on stilts because it will increase floodwater storage."

Spelthorne Council's assistant plan-ning head John Brooks said: "In functional flood plains there will be frequent flooding and fast flowing water in major events. In these areas, we would not be allowing new residential developments and we would not be allowing any home extensions.

"Replacement houses might be allowed provided they are not bigger than original buildings and are designed to resist flooding."

An EA spokesman said its maps showed properties either side of the Patels' bungalow are in the FFP and that Government guidance on the zones is unclear.

She added: "We are not in favour of building on stilts because in our experience the gaps in the structure are often infilled."