HOUSING plans for Cottingham have won council backing despite fears it could take flood risk in the village to "crisis point".
Bellway Homes (Yorkshire) Ltd assured East Riding Council the scheme would not add to the flood risk in the village.
The developer also scaled back its original 144-home plan for the former Twinacre Nurseries site, in Castle Road, to 125 homes.
The council's planning committee agreed the 125-home scheme could go ahead, subject to a range of conditions.
Cottingham councillors had warned the committee drainage was a big concern in the village, where homes have been hit by flooding.
Councillor Lena Slater said residents were concerned the sewers would not cope if housing went ahead on the site, which is opposite Castle Hill Hospital.
She said: "The most contentious issue for everyone in Cottingham – not just the residents close to this site, but in multiple areas of Cottingham – is, will the combined sewers cope with this new site and also the NHS site adjacent to this, which could be developed for a maximum of 180 houses?
"The NHS has made it plain they intend to increase the size of the hospital, they will put more buildings on that site.
"Everything that happens takes us further and further to a crisis point."
Cllr Slater said there had been constructive discussions with Bellway Homes and she would like to see the same level of co-operation from Yorkshire Water.
She told the committee: "When are we going to get some sense out of Yorkshire Water and when will they be able to tell us with absolute accuracy that we don't need any more sewerage capacity in Cottingham?"
Cottingham Councillor Geraldine Mathieson also said drainage was a worry.
She said: "Anything that goes off this site could end up floating around people's houses and Yorkshire Water would still say that's fine by their standards.
"It needs a change from Ofwat for them to do something about it.
"Even though you can still do what looks good for this site, there can still be problems elsewhere, so there will still be objections to any large building schemes in Cottingham.
"There's regular flooding. It's not just 2007, it's on a regular basis for some houses.
Sarah Mustill, planning manager for Bellway Homes, told the committee it was recognised drainage was a sensitive issue in the village.
She assured councillors: "The site will be adequately drained and will not increase the risk of flooding elsewhere."
The planning committee agreed permission would be granted for 125 homes subject to completion of a legal agreement securing affordable housing on the site, on-site play space and a contribution to off-site youth/adult outdoor play space.
The developer will also have to contribute to additional primary school places.
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