Council told that parts of large site zoned for residential development at risk of flooding

Areas that have been designated as being specifically for the development of residential properties in Celbridge are not at risk of flooding according to the report of an architect working with Kildare County Council.

Cllr Ide Cussen raised a question regarding two site development zones in the town at a recent meeting of the Celbridge-Leixlip Municipal District, asking the Housing Department to provide a detailed report on the two sites.

One site, a 6.27 hectare area located on the Ardclough Road, has one hectare designated to residential development and that is not at risk of flooding according to the report.

The report on that site read;

"The site is to the south of Celbridge, bounded to the west by the river Liffey and to the east by the Ardclough Road. Approximately 1 ha of the site is zoned New Residential. Due to its proximity to the Liffey the site is at risk of flooding. A Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) 2016 covering this site is included in the draft Celbridge Local Area Plan 2017 - 2023. The SFRA shows that a large portion of the land is at risk of both the 1 in 100 and 1 in 1000 flood events.

"However the lands at risk are predominantly located in the areas zoned Strategic Open Space or Agriculture. The areas at risk of flooding were taken into account when zoning of land in the draft Celbridge Local Area Plan (LAP)LAP was being considered (a justification test was carried out of this site). The approximately 1 hectare zoned for new residential in Kildare County Council ownership appears to be outside of these risk areas. A site specific flood risk assessment will need to be carried out on connection with the development of this site."

A second site on the Hazelhatch Road, which is 1.02 hectares in size, was previously considered for a halting site, and a specific flood risk assessment will need to be carried out according to the report.

"The site is to the east of the R405 Hazelhatch Road. The site was previously considered by the Housing section for a halting site. The site is zoned for existing residential/infill in the draft Celbridge Local Area Plan. A justification test was carried out when the zoning of this land was being considered. A site specific flood risk assessment will need to be carried out on connection with the development of this site."