Leith Dock drawings raise flood risk fear
Posted by a Contributor to The Blog on May 23rd
Extra measures are needed to bolster flood defences at proposed developments on Edinburgh’s waterfront, a new report concludes.
The Edinburgh City Council transport and engineering department study highlights uncertainty about extreme water levels and recommends that members demand ground-floor heights at Leith Docks be set 5.5m above the average sea level. Officials also want storm flood plains to remain undeveloped.
Forth Ports is seeking consent for two urban villages around Ocean Terminal with homes, a waterside esplanade and a visitor centre for the royal yacht Britannia.
The report states: “The drawings show storm flow paths that exceed the capacity of the drainage system. They are generally satisfactory but show an area where flow could cause flooding of a proposed building. The development should not increase the risk of flood to any building, existing or proposed.”
However, Forth Ports said the report contains inaccuracies and insisted that its environmental statement shows no higher flood risk. [Via planningresource.co.uk]