Plans needed to protect Embankment Road from flooding

A flood defence scheme alongside Embankment Road is being planned

Plans for a flood defence scheme that would help protect one of the major roads into Plymouth have been outlined. Two options as to how to protect the A374 Embankment Road from Arnold’s Point towards Embankment Lane are being explored.

As well as being a major road into the city, Embankment Road on its north side, lies key railway infrastructure including the main Great Western rail line and the Laira rail traction and rolling stock maintenance depot. But rising sea levels mean that in the future the properties at risk of flooding (including strategic road and rail transport links) are likely to be flooded more frequently. It is predicted that by 2050 the flooding of Embankment Road could occur about once a year.

Phase 1 Arnold’s Point Flood Alleviation project saw the installation of a 110m long and 4.81m high flood wall in 2015 to protect the lowest section along Embankment Road. Now work is beginning to be planned for the second phase of the works.

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A request for an Environmental Impact Assessment screening opinion for the proposed flood defence scheme has been submitted as part of the latest list of planning applications for Plymouth. The document outlines that two options are under consideration.

Option A has a cantilevered design and Option B as a non-cantilevered design. Option A also requires alignment of part of the new tidal defence wall further south by 1.3m into the revetment while the tidal defence in Option A also extends into the boat storage area located adjacent to the A374 and the Plymouth Amateur Rowing Club, to provide enhanced share use provision

Both Options A and B comprise extensions of the existing raised defence by 1.1km adjacent to the A374 Embankment Road from Arnolds Point towards Embankment Lane. The Proposed Development would be offset to allow for greater width for the adjacent pedestrian and cycle path.

Option A would be cantilevered and formed using a reinforced concrete wall with glass panels and would facilitate a defence that can achieve a 1 in 200-year defence level, the screening request says. Plymouth City Council had previously said glass wall options are being considered to protect the views across the Plym Estuary and the scheme is being developed in conjunction with the Environment Agency.

The document adds: “The A374 Embankment Road is part of Plymouth’s only Major Road Network (MRN) route and is therefore, a key road that requires protection. Additionally, directly behind the road to the west is a low-lying area that is mainly residential with a number of schools, hospitals, and green spaces plus strategic rail infrastructure including Laira Depot.”

No formal planning application has yet been submitted. The EIA screening opinion will form any necessary impacts and mitigation required as part of any future plans.

Plymouth City Council planners will determine the fate of all the new applications listed below at a later date. Below is the full latest list of planning applications that have been submitted this week.

Plymouth planning list

· Condition Discharge: Condition 3 of application 23/01179/FUL – Phase 13, Seaton Neighbourhood Plymouth – https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=S7EV2MMMLZ400&activeTab=summary

· Proposed loft conversion and hip to gable conversion – 2 North Down Road Plymouth PL2 3HH – https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=S7D5ZYMMLYP00&activeTab=summary

· Non-material Amendment: To alter the description of development to that as originally submitted to read change of use from 6 bedroom HMO (Class C4) to HMO (Sui Generis) of application 23/01577/FUL – 77 Belgrave Road Plymouth PL4 7DR – https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=S7CYFGMM05L00&activeTab=summary

· Request for EIA screening opinion for proposed flood defence scheme – Arnolds Point, Embankment Road Plymouth PL4 9JW – https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=S7CRN6MM04Q00&activeTab=summary

· Condition Discharge: Condition 3 of application 23/01187/FUL – Fursdon House, Blunts Lane Plymouth PL6 8BE – https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=S7D37HMMLYM00&activeTab=summary

· Pre-application to erect a garden shed building to the rear of the property for use as a Cattery – 120 Stuart Road Plymouth PL1 5LP – https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=S7ARFTMM04Q00&activeTab=summary

· Pre-application for demolition of existing building and erection of 3no dwellings – Trinity United Reform Church Torr Lane Plymouth PL3 5NY – https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=S7CLGPMM05L00&activeTab=summary

· Alterations to rear elevation including ground floor single storey conservatory – 39 Venn Grove Plymouth PL3 5PH – https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=S73IOJMMLVL00&activeTab=summary

· Addition of first floor, single storey rear extension, entrance porch, installation of bay window to side elevation – 43 Reddicliff Close Plymouth PL9 9QJ – https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=S71TN3MMLV700&activeTab=summary

· Single storey extension to side of bungalow, with window to front elevation and patio doors to rear – 8 Woodview Park Plymouth PL9 8HD – https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=S6HGA4MMLPI00&activeTab=summary

· Replacement garage with 1no. flat (Class C3) above – 22A Auckland Road Plymouth PL2 3BX – https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=S6C4NWMMLO700&activeTab=summary

· Installation of a Glass Reinforced Polymer kiosk to house a new gas governor with fenced compound and demolition of an existing gas governor – 11 St Levan Road Plymouth PL2 3AE – https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=S5NA4SMMLGV00&activeTab=summary

· Demolition of existing ground floor garage and addition of proposed two storey extension consisting of ground floor garage, shower room and office with additional bedroom and ensuite to the first floor – 44 Thornyville Villas Plymouth PL9 7LB – https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=S57B7FMMLBK00&activeTab=summary