Photos show flooding to 760 home Foundry Lea development

The photos capture flooding to part of the 760 home development at Foundry Lea, on the site that was Vearse Farm near Bridport, on Monday, September 30. 

Construction on the site started in April, with a spokesperson for Foundry Lea saying work has commenced on the essential infrastructure work to the site, which includes construction and drainage for the main loop road on the development. 

Flooding delayed work on the site for around two hours on Monday, and developers say they are looking to address the surface water run-off issue. A spokesperson for Foundry Lea said they are looking to develop a comprehensive, site-wide surface water management plan to halt flooding disruption in the future. 

Flooding to the Foundry Lea development at Vearse Farm near Bridport (Image: Graham Hunt Photography)

The development has not been without controversy, with concerns previously raised over the fear of flooding to newly-built homes in the area before work had even begun on the site. 

This is because campaigners say the Vearse Farm site drains rainwater down to the River Simene and the flood plain, and without water going anywhere there is a greater risk of flooding. 

Barry Bates, chairman of campaign group Advearse - which opposes the development - said: “It is important to keep this in perspective -many places across the country have flooded this week.

“However, Advearse has consistently argued that the scale of the development and the run-off from its streets puts West Bay and Bridport at greater risk of serious flooding.

Aerial view of the house building work at Foundry Lea at Vearse Farm in Bridport. Some of the fields are showing signs of flooding after the recent heavy rain. (Image: Graham Hunt Photography) “Already forecasts based on rising sea levels predict that the land back from West Bay to Bridport will be at increasing risk anyway.

"We have yet to see any convincing plans about how the additional demand from Foundry Lea will be managed down stream.

“The point is that we know that places will flood, but where will the run off water go? If you go to the Somerset Levels you will see pastoral fields being flooded in the winter to avoid the flooding to roads, but in Bridport we’re two miles from the sea, with nowhere for the water to go.

Aerial view of the house building work at Foundry Lea at Vearse Farm in Bridport. Some of the fields are showing signs of flooding after the recent heavy rain. (Image: Graham Hunt Photography)“We accept that most of the Foundry Lea site will not flood. We need greater reassurance from both the Environment Agency and Dorset Council’s Flood Authority that the plans for this development are robust enough to manage the impact of its run off in the town itself.

“Climate change is forcing us all to think again. Vearse Farm would not meet the latest Dorset Council sustainability guidelines. We would ask the planners to consider rowing back the scale of this development."

The site previously flooded in December last year when the banks of the River Simene burst after torrential rain hit rivers that were already high following previous wet weather and Storm Ciarán. 

A spokesperson for Foundry Lea said: “We have commenced essential infrastructure works, including construction and drainage for the main loop road on the development.

"We are scheduled to begin installation of bridges in November, with plot works to follow shortly thereafter.

“Regarding the recent flooding, heavy rainfall temporarily delayed works on-site for approximately two hours.

"To address surface water run-off, we have engaged an external consultant to develop a comprehensive, site-wide surface water management plan. This will ensure that water is effectively managed and mitigates the risk of future disruptions.”