We are aware that issues have been raised concerning flooding to properties on North Street, Raunds.

This area has a long history of flooding, with the report “Raunds Community Flood Risk and Mitigation Investigation & Community Drainage Maintenance Plan” dated July 2018.

https://www.floodtoolkit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/28550_RAUNDS_REV-02_270718.pdf

The report states that floods were recorded in:

• 1952
• Easter 1998
• July 1999
• November 2012
• November 2013
• January 2015
• March 2016
• December 2017

We are also aware that the area in question flooded in April 2018.

The housing development at Northdale Park, Raunds commenced in May 2019.

All drainage designs and works for this development have been submitted to and approved by the local planning authority (North Northamptonshire Council).

Works are required in order to formalise the entrance to Northdale Park.  These works are largely within the public highway and so require a Section 278 Legal Agreement to be completed, prior to these works being undertaken.

We have been working closely with North Northamptonshire Council Highways department to finalise the Section 278 Agreement since the commencement of our development.  A significant amount of flood alleviation works have been included within this agreement to assist with the pre-existing flooding issues in the area.

The Section 278 works are in a location that requires the removal of a number of trees.  These trees are the subject of a Tree Preservation Order by the Council, and so required an application to remove them.  Unfortunately this was a very protracted process and not of our making or choosing.

The Section 278 Agreement has now been signed by ourselves and is being circulated to the remaining signatories so that they can do the same.  It is our intention to undertake the works as soon as practicable after the S278 Agreement is completed.

No enforcement action was made in April 2022 as has been suggested, as at that stage no S278 Agreement was in place to enforce against.

For any further information, please email hello@bowbridge-group.com