Council considers barn redevelopment within flooding zone near Burghfield Bridge

West Berkshire Council is considering an application near Burghfield.

Andrew and Michelle Bucknell applied for permission in June to demolish an existing dairy barn and replace this with a building for light engineering works.

The current detached barn at Holybrook Farm, near Burghfield Bridge, is situated within a former agricultural yard and is mainly used for storage.

The replacement building would be laid on top of the existing concrete hardstanding, which was laid in the 1960s.

The site lies within the AWE Burghfield outer blast zone.

It is also located within flood zones 2 and 3, an area with a high probability of flooding, due to being flanked by the River Kennet and Holy Brook

The applicant’s flood risk assessment proposes to mitigate this risk by coating the new property with flood resilient material to a height 400mm above ground level.

It also proposes that electrical wiring should drop from the ceiling to sockets 400mm above ground floor level; all drainage and waste pipes should be fitted with ‘non-return valves’ to prevent contaminated water entering the rear of the building; no metal piping should be used under the extensions to avoid future corrosion; the mortar mix should include flood protective material, including the foundations; and that the ground floor should be made be of concrete.

Proposed evacuation measures have also been considered in the event of flooding.

The district council is expected to determine the application by November 24.