Strategic Flood Risk Assessment - Hambleton District Council

Most of the industry in Stokesley is located on the industrial park to the south-east of the
town. The Flood Defence Channel (FDC) that passes the northern side of the industrial park
provides a natural barrier to development in that area. The land immediately to the south,
south west and south east of the industrial park is unaffected by flooding.
There are areas of brownfield land within the town that may be available for redevelopment
following the relocation of some companies to the industrial estate. An extensive area of the
town centre is within the Flood Zone 2 and 3 area so there will have to be careful
consideration of Brownfield development sites that fall in these areas to ensure that the
development is appropriate and flood risk is dealt with.
The Flood Defence Channel (FDC) was originally designed to provide flood protection to a 1
in 40 year flood event standard. The recent Environment Agency review of flood risk in the
Upper Leven area indicates that this level of protection has been maintained. PPG 25
recognises that development behind existing defences is extremely vulnerable in the event of
overtopping or breaching of the defences. Subject to the sequential test development should
not be permitted behind flood defences that will not provide an acceptable standard of safety.
See plans on pages 36-37
• Great Ayton
Background
The main influence on flooding in and around Great Ayton is the River Leven which flows
through the centre of the village. The contoured landscape means that the Flood Zone
extents are concentrated close to the watercourse.
Great Ayton has a long history of flooding, and as a result the gradient of the river has been
altered through the construction of a series of fords and weirs and the river banks have been
reinforced. Great Ayton was subject to flooding in November 2000 and as a consequence
was included in the Upper Leven Flood Risk Management Strategy.
Flooding
The Flood Zone 2 and 3 extents are concentrated around the River Leven. Two further areas
of flooding are identified in residential areas remote from the Flood Zones 2 and 3 – in the
Angrove Close and Farm Garth areas. The flooding in these two locations is thought to be
principally related to insufficient capacity or defects in the drainage infrastructure, though a
contributory effect from overland flows from adjacent agricultural land has been noted in
relation to the flooding at Angrove Close.
The Upper Leven Flood Risk Management Strategy identified that restrictions on the Leven
as it flows through the centre of Great Ayton were the main contributory factors to flooding
events, in particular the Holly Garth Bridge. However the assessment of possible flood
management options including the alteration of the Holly Garth Bridge indicated it was not
economically justifiable at this time to carry out major works to alter or remove the restrictions,
though this will remain subject to periodic re-evaluation. A targeted programme of
maintenance will be developed to reduce flood risk on an incremental basis and to remove or
lessen the influence of restrictions as opportunities arise.
See plans on pages 38-40
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