Development Site CA12 – Strategic Reassessment Following Flood Risk Reclassification

Updated

Cold Ash Parish Council

c/o Parish Office
The Pavilion, Hermitage Road
Cold Ash, RG18 9JH
p.murray@coldashparishcouncil.gov.uk

21st April 2025

To:
denise.gaines1@westberks.gov.uk

Deputy Leader of Council; Executive Portfolio Holder – Planning and Housing
West Berkshire Council

Re: Development Site CA12 – Strategic Reassessment Following Flood Risk Reclassification

Dear Mrs. Gaines,

Following our letter dated 10 April 2025, (attached) Cold Ash Parish Council (CAPC) now writes to you directly, as Head of Planning, to request that West Berkshire Council (WBC) formally reconsider the inclusion and continued allocation of site CA12 for residential development.

This follows both the updated Government Flood Map for Planning published on 25 March 2025, the formal objection submitted by the Environment Agency on 16 April 2025 (Ref: WA/2025/132104/01-L01), which now classifies the majority of CA12 within Flood Zones 2, 3a, and 3b (functional floodplain) and the Hydrology Consultation Report for CAPC: Objection to Planning Application for CA12 Development Dated 28/03/25.

We respectfully suggest that WBC now:

  1. Pauses further consideration of CA12 pending a new Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) and updated Sequential Test at the absolute minimum.
  2. Reviews site allocations for soundness. Given other available land in Flood Zone 1, continued promotion of CA12 would not satisfy NPPF paragraph 174.
  3. Considers plan-led redirection to safer sites, consistent with CS16 and WBC’s environmental and sustainability commitments.

Cold Ash Parish Council is committed to working constructively with WBC through our elected NDP in 2024. We support local housing delivery but believe it must be undertaken in the safest, most appropriate locations.



In addition to the three points above we would also welcome:


– A meeting to discuss the implications of the EA objection and recent flood mapping updates;
– An update on the Council’s internal review of CA12 as a potential allocation;
– Confirmation of WBC’s approach to reassessing the Sequential Test using the latest evidence



Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Yours sincerely,
P J Murray
Vice Chair
Cold Ash Parish Council
p.murray@coldashparishcouncil.gov.uk

07836221710

Cc i.mcardle@coldashparishcouncil.gov.uk Chair CAPC

heather.codling1@westberks.gov.uk District Councilor