New Waitrose drainage plans will reduce peak water floods from the site

News and Announcements - Sainsbury's / Waitrose

Tuesday, 06 March 2012 14:03

Waitrose and Simons are finalising additional plans to reassure local residents that their scheme will reduce the risk and extent of peak water flows from the site that contribute to flooding.

The following press release has been provided by Waitrose:

Waitrose and Simons are finalising additional plans to reassure local residents that their scheme will reduce the risk and extent of peak water flows from the site that contribute to flooding.

The Environment Agency confirmed that the previous drainage proposals by Simons were in line with national planning guidance, but welcomed the additional measures taken by Simons.

Simons has proposed a revised drainage system that will be able to hold surface water from their site and reduce peak water run-off into the Avon upstream of St Johns Bridge.  The new system, combined with other measures, will reduce water flow at peak times from the site by up to 60%.

Technical details of this scheme are being prepared and will be submitted to the Environment Agency and Wiltshire Council. Simons met with the Environment Agency on Friday 24 February to review these drainage plans and the technical details of this scheme will now be submitted to the Environment Agency and Wiltshire Council for final agreement.
Martin McGread from Simons, the development partner working with Waitrose, said:  

“We take the concerns of local residents very seriously.  We have worked with the Environment Agency and drainage specialists to come up with a scheme which addresses the concerns of local residents and will benefit Malmesbury.”

Jonathan Banham from Waitrose said:  

“Addressing flood risk has always been integral to our proposals and from the beginning we have taken guidance from the Environment Agency and drainage experts to ensure we took the appropriate steps. However, it's also important that we take advice from Malmesbury residents and were more than happy to introduce additional measures to address their concerns and improve the site’s existing drainage."