The latest phase of a huge housing development in Chippenham has been approved, despite nearby residents fearing it could make flooding issues worse.

The proposal put forward by Bloor Homes South West will see an additional 56 homes and associated infrastructure built at the development, which has planning permission to grow to as many as 450 dwellings.

The latest site to be developed as part of the project is an open field to the southeast of Easton Lane, near the A350.

Wiltshire Council’s northern area planning committee had deferred the decision on the latest phase because were concerns over the impact on neighbouring properties, which have previously experienced flooding.

READ MORE: Next phase of Chippenham housing scheme in question

(Image: Bloor Homes) Houses on Ferguson Close, a part of the housing estate that would border the planned homes, narrowly avoided significant flooding during Storm Henk in January.

At the time, a resident said she and her neighbours battled the flood for hours, including blockading their properties.

Many in the community remain concerned about the proposed drainage plan for the next batch of houses and the “negative impact” this could have on their properties.

There are also fears that the noise from the nearby A350 could be a nuisance for those living in the new builds.

But the council’s drainage engineer has reviewed all the submitted documents and raised no objections to the proposal.

Officers recommended that the committee approves the application, subject to noise mitigation measures.

At the meeting on Wednesday, September 19 Ferguson Close resident, Janet Morgan, was present to voice her concerns.

She claimed that the water systems in place for the existing homes at Hunters Moon had “significant problems” and spoke of consequent flooding and sewage overflow.

She asked: “Can the officer, or lead local flood authority, or the developers, or all three, explain how the drainage proposal for phase six is credible?”

SEE ALSO: Next phase of Chippenham housing scheme raises flood fears

In response Max Thergood, director of civil engineering, said: “The phase six drainage system is designed so that a rainfall event up to an annual probability of one in a hundred years, with an allowance for climate change, will be managed on-site in areas of attenuation before being released at a controlled rate.”

He added: “The proposed phase six surface water drainage will connect into the phase two drainage system, where an allowance was made for this parcel to connect, taking these flows directly into the phase two attenuation basin, before being released further downstream below the Ferguson Drive culvert.

“This change lowers the volume of water in the water course upstream of Ferguson Drive, reducing the flood risk.”

The committee was told that this strategy had been reviewed and agreed by the council’s drainage engineer and the lead local flood authority.

Mr Thergood said that the concerns had been taken “extremely seriously” by Bloor Homes and that they wished to reiterate their “accountability as a responsible developer”.

The northern area planning committee agreed to approve the application, with conditions such as a photographic schedule showing that the drainage scheme had been implemented prior to the occupation of the new homes and communication of contact details for the residents to call in the event of further issues.  

Following the flooding near Hilltop Park earlier this year, Bloor Homes said it had taken action to support residents.

At the time, a spokesperson added: “As a responsible developer we are taking every action to assist residents affected by flooding which occurred last week after the unprecedented levels of rainfall in the local area.

“We are very responsive to, and supportive of all our homeowners and immediately requested a meeting at the Hilltop Park development with local councillors to discuss what is happening on our development because of the flooded surrounding areas, including the A350 highway.

“We have already contacted all the residents in the vicinity of the flooding at Hilltop Park and will continue to keep them informed as our investigations progress.”

Bloor Homes was asked for a further comment but has not yet responded.