Flooding risks 'not underplayed'

Potential problems with flooding on a housing development in Jersey were not underplayed, the island's planning minister has said.

An enquiry into a development near Bel Royal, also known as Goose Green Marsh, said planners made an understatement in their assessment of drainage.

But, in a written response, Minister Freddie Cohen has told the enquiry the applicant had to analyse flood risks.

He said the applicant also had to find ways to deal with them.

Experts appointed

The enquiry report was compiled by a committee headed up by lawyer Carol Canavan.

It said States planning officials underestimated flooding issues at the site where 102 new homes were built.

The report said planners' assessments of drainage on the site as "fair" were, "with hindsight", an understatement.

Bel Royal site has flooded on many occasions over the years and campaigners in St Lawrence claimed it should not have been rezoned for homes.

Minister Cohen said in his written response to the enquiry that it was clear from the start the applicant had to analyse risks and find suitable ways to deal with them.

He said experts had been appointed to do just that and he was satisfied with what had been proposed.

He added that, notwithstanding all the difficulties, the scheme had the potential to be one of the best large-scale first-time buyer developments to be built in the island.

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