The Environment Agency has submitted plans for a scheme to reduce flood risk to over 400 homes and businesses in Totnes to South Hams District Council.

Plans for a scheme to reduce flood risk to over 400 homes and businesses in Totnes have been submitted to South Hams District Council.

The proposals put forward by the Environment Agency involve improving the existing flood defences along the River Dart from the mainline railway bridge to the Steam Packet Inn. Other measures include providing a new flood wall within Morrisons car park, raising Ashford slipway, the provision of flood resilience measures to individual properties and flood gates.

Tom Buxton-Smith, an engineer at the Environment Agency, said:

 "Since the construction of the original defences we know flood risk has changed and in recent years there have been at least two occasions where some of the properties in the town have come close to flooding. The proposed work will reduce flood risk to hundreds of properties."

"By using the existing flood defences we hope to be able to carry out improvements in a cost effective way which minimises disruption in the town during construction."

Designs for the scheme were drawn up following discussions with landowners and property owners and a public drop-in session in the town in April.

The planning application is due to be discussed by the council’s Development Management Committee on 18 January 2017. The estimated cost of the works is £3.8million. If the application is approved, work will start early in 2017.

Waterbriefing is media partner with the Environment Agency’s major three-day conference and exhibition Flood and Coast 2017 which takes place from 28 to 30 March 2017 in Telford. Click here for more information