Comment

Representation ID: 13591

Received: 18/03/2021

Respondent: Canal & River Trust

We note that the red line plan drawn to accompany the description is inaccurately plotted, and may need correcting.
The southern part of the site fronts onto the towpath of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.
The site is at a lower level to the canal, which is supported above the site by a shallow embankment. The site would be vulnerable to any breach or leakage from the canal. We therefore advise that any future planning proposals should consider the risk within the flood assessment, including any mitigation to reduce the risk of flooding in the event of any breach. We advise that this risk should be included within the development considerations to ensure that this risk is appropriately identified and mitigated against.
Changes to levels on site also have the potential to impact the stability of the embankment. To ensure that the Local Plan complies with the aims of paragraph 170 and 178 from the National Planning Policy Framework with regards to stability, we advise that the development considerations should include the need for contextual information to demonstrate that the development will not result in land instability. Suggested text is provided below:
“Development will need to demonstrate that it will not adversely impact the embankment supporting the canal above the site”
At application stage, we advise that cross sections would be required to indicate the initial impact on slope stability. Further stability analyses may be required subject to the sections provided.
There is a risk that, due to the topography on site, redevelopment could result in a backward facing residential estate style development that would have a poot visual impact on outward views from the canal. The inclusion, within the development considerations, of the need for the development to provide a high quality frontage to the canal is welcome, as it may help to make the plan more effective in providing for an appropriate design.
The Trust maintain our towpaths to a steady state, and additional contributions may be required from new development to accommodate the needs of new residents, and to prevent any deterioration of the towpath surface associated with additional usage. The existing inclusion of text in the development considerations addressing this requirement should help to mitigate against this risk.