A developer has lodged plans to build houses on land in Echt that locals claim floods every year – and so deep one neighbour even takes their canoe out on it.
Kirkwood Homes and Dunecht Estates want to build 25 new homes on land north of Forbes Park.
The development will be the third phase of housing delivered by Kirkwood Homes in Echt. The first phase of 30 houses was completed in 2014 and the second phase of 28 homes in 2015.
Around a quarter of the homes planned will be affordable housing.
The site, which is in a field of 3.5 hectares, is next to the first two phases of the development, which has worried residents about the impact construction may have on their own homes.
According to locals, the field is not in use because it floods every year, and their own gardens are constantly “wet and boggy”.
One resident has even claimed her neighbour takes their canoe out to sail in the “pond of water”.
Aberdeenshire Council’s flood risk team has objected to the application due to the risk of flooding, and has asked for further details.
And the Echt and Skene Community Council has also objected to the development given the low-lying nature of the site and flood risk.
Although Scottish Water has no objection to the planning application, the analyst stressed it cannot be confirmed the proposed development can be serviced.
Kirkwood Homes has stressed they have taken on public comments and have been working closely with consultees and the council to address the points raised.
‘Water has got to go somewhere’
Residents have expressed fears that once the area is built upon it will be unable to provide drainage and their homes may be at risk of flooding.
Some claim the site floods repeatedly and “at least annually”, while others say their land is too boggy to grow any plants in their garden.
One resident spoke to the Press and Journal about concerns they won’t be able to dispose of the volume of water.
She believes the developers don’t understand the severity of the flooding in the area and is worried the project will impact their drainage and impact the ground surrounding their building.
She said: “That water’s got to go somewhere, and there’s a real concern about the future impact on our home for flooding, and obviously it’s going to make our homes less desirable.
“If this new development gets built and the homes are getting flooded it will devalue our property because we’ll get tarnished with the same brush. People will think our homes also suffer from flooding.
“I think there’s a real concern amongst all of us that are living in the existing homes which don’t get flooded, but maybe in the future, they will.
She added: “Every year I take photos of it, and in fact, one of our neighbours has a wee canoe and they take it out in the flood. It’s that deep, they go out in their wee canoe and go about sailing in this pond of water.”
Overcrowding fears and wildlife concerns
Residents have also raised concerns about roads, overcrowding and the risk to wildlife.
To date, eight objections have been lodged by locals to the plans.
Some fear the school and local doctor’s surgery at Banchory are at capacity. Aberdeenshire Council says Echt School and Alford Academy can take more pupils.
Meanwhile, the NHS has confirmed the Banchory Medical Group is “operating beyond capacity” and the developer would need to contribute towards increasing capacity.
Skylarks, hedgehogs and badgers can be found in the field, so Kirkwood has been advised to take action to ensure they do not develop when ground nesting birds are breeding.
The developer has also been asked to be careful not to spread horsetail and to retain existing drystone dykes where possible and protect native plants and shrubs.
Kirkwood working to address points raised
Kirkwood Homes say they have been working with consultees and the council to address points raised and have taken public comments on board.
The developers are planning to include a buffer strip to ensure risk of flooding is minimised and has carried out a flood risk assessment.
During the flood risk analysis, Sepa advised that within Echt and 550 yards of the surrounding area there are currently only four records of historic flooding.
It was also advised the development should include sustainable drainage systems.
New foul sewers and surface water sewers will be provided to serve the development and will be located within the new roads and areas of open ground where necessary.
Allan Rae, land director at Kirkwood Homes said: “We’ve been working closely with the consultees and the council to address the points that have come through the planning process and we’re now waiting for the council to appraise that.
“In our view, we’ve addressed all the points raised by objectors, the community council and the statutory consultees so that’s away to be considered by the case officer who will write a report for the committee.”
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