A developer will have to pay millions of pounds towards combating flooding in north Heybridge if they want to build new houses in the area. 

Maldon District Council have included a stipulation in their latest Local Development Plan that any development in the north of Heybridge should contribute towards a flood alleviation scheme.

The scheme, which will be funded by developers through a legal Section 106 agreement, is hoped to help flooding which regularly occurs in Holloway Road and nearby Maypole Road.

Developer Countryside Properties is interested in bringing most of the 1,235 homes allocated for between Langford Road and Broad Street Green Road.

In doing so, they suggested a new link road from Langford Road to Broad Street Green Road, improvements to the highways network, investment in primary and secondary schools and health care, as well as a provision of a district park.

David Coleman, strategic planning policy manager at Maldon District Council, said: “If this comes off, the flood alleviation scheme will be a major benefit to the residents of Heybridge.

“The developer has to make sure that their new area doesn’t flood and that the existing situation in Heybridge will not get any worse."

See this week's Standard for the full story.