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‘Moat and bridge' housing site in Tyrone could face enforcement

The new development near Coalisland has a trench for water and is accessed via a bridge. Picture by Skytask Aerial Imaging
The new development near Coalisland has a trench for water and is accessed via a bridge. Picture by Skytask Aerial Imaging The new development near Coalisland has a trench for water and is accessed via a bridge. Picture by Skytask Aerial Imaging

A CO Tyrone housing development built with a 'moat' is facing enforcement action amid fears that neighbouring homes have been put at greater risk of flooding.

Constructed in an area repeatedly hit by floods, the scheme at Moor Road outside Coalisland is surrounded on two sides by a trench for water.

The development of 30 semi-detached houses is accessed via a bridge.

Planning approval was given based on a series of measures aimed at reducing the risk of flooding to neighbouring land and property.

However, planners are now pursuing enforcement proceedings over concerns that all the required flood-prevention measures have not been completed.

The developer of Moor Park has insisted it is awaiting necessary approvals from roads officials to finish the work.

The Moor Road area has been hit with eight floods since 2000 according to the Rivers Agency, the most recent less than four years ago.

Neighbouring residents now fear their homes, which have already suffered flood damage in the past, could be at even greater risk.

Described as a "highly desirable development" and "built to exacting standards", the new three- and four-bedroom homes are on the market for between £115,000 and £127,500. The Moor Park development was granted planning permission in 2014.

Mid Ulster council said approval included the condition: "Prior to the commencement of any other development hereby approved, all flood alleviation channels, culvert upgrades, and related sundry works shall be provided as detailed and shall be permanently retained clear of any obstruction."

A spokeswoman said: "The reason for this condition was to protect adjacent properties and infrastructure from additional flood risk caused by the infilling of the flood storage area before the mitigation measures are put in place.

"Mid Ulster District Council, having been made aware of the risk of flooding to adjoining lands, opened an enforcement case relating to the issue of the failure to comply with the above condition and has issued a Breach of Condition Notice on the developer.

"Consideration is presently being given by the council on how to progress with enforcement proceedings."

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A Rivers Agency spokeswoman said: "The developer is required, prior to commencement of the development, to carry out any necessary works to drainage infrastructure.

"This is to ensure that adjacent properties are not exposed to additional flood risk.

"Rivers Agency officials have been engaged in discussions with landowners' representatives in this area regarding their concerns that the development will increase flood risk on their land."

But a spokesman for the developer Western Building Systems strongly dismissed concerns over flooding.

He said outstanding flood alleviation measures involve upgrading a culvert at Moor Road, which requires approval from roads officials that has not yet been granted.

The spokesman said they began construction because this approval could not be received until there was both planning permission and evidence of a "genuine effort to commence the building".

"When this approval is with us we will instal the culverts," he said.

"Our company has expended a lot of money and invested a lot of money in this area and into these houses, houses that we're in the process of completing.

"We're hoping to have the approval, and as soon as we have that, the culverts and the final piece of the jigsaw will be in place."

TransportNI said it requested further information from the developer back in 2014 to progress the matter but that "to date, no reply has been received".

Grandmother's home flooded three times

GRANDMOTHER-of-four Cora Dorrity has lived in Moor Close for 16 years, and during that time her house has been hit by three severe floods.

The 73-year-old shares scores of photos showing the devastating impact on her home.

Brown water can be seen sloshing around inside the property while outside the pavements and gardens of her cul-de-sac are completely submerged.

Carefully chronicling the damage for insurers, the images show how flood waters also covered fields behind her house.

But now those fields have been turned into a new housing development containing 30 homes.

Planning approval was granted on the condition of numerous flood-alleviation measures, but Ms Dorrity fears the new development could make matters worse.

"I think it's shocking. I get up every morning, I look out and I could cry," said the grandmother, who is now planning to move out.

"I paid fully for my house thinking it's something to leave my children. But now I don't know what my house is worth, or whether I can sell it."

Ms Dorrity described how the ground has been raised where the new development has been built, which features a bridge across a large trench of water.

"I have completely lost all privacy and the flooding will come into my back garden. If it floods again I'm going to get the brunt of it," she claimed.

"My fear would be if it floods again the water is bound to come down from the height where they are down to our houses."

Gavin Owen (32) also lives beside the new Moor Park development with his wife Emmalisa (32) and four-year-old daughter Mia.

The couple, who run an arts-and-crafts business from their home, are also concerned about the impact of the new housing development.

"Since the building started the field has gone from below my garden level to 10ft above my garden – now I look out on an embankment of mud," he said.

"We're now just being moved further into a ditch and surely it's going to send more water our way."