Forth Ports warned of climate change flood threat to docks

Published on Saturday 18 April 2009 11:24

FORTH Ports has been warned to boost its flood defences amid fears its multi-million pound revamp of Leith Docks could end up being swamped by the sea.

City planners are currently assessing the port owner's plans for the first two of nine "urban villages" featuring new homes, hotels and visitor centres.

But the city's transport and engineering department has raised concerns about flooding and the impact that rising sea levels, caused by climate change, will have on the 700 million development.

Officials have warned that an area of the port just north of Ocean Terminal, where development is planned over the next 20 years, could be flooded in the event of a major storm. But Forth Ports today dismissed the council's concerns, claiming they were based on "material inaccuracies".

The council has now recommended a number of conditions are put on the application if it is approved, including ensuring that the finished ground levels are a minimum of 5.5m above the average sea level. Officials also want all buildings removed from any potential storm flooding plains and a new agreement on the management of water levels in the Water of Leith and docks.

Alvin Barber, one of the council's top flood prevention experts, said: "There is uncertainty about the predicted extreme water levels, both at present and as a result of climate change.

"The drawings submitted show flow paths in the event of a storm which exceeds the capacity of the drainage system, causing surcharge and overland flow.

"This is generally satisfactory, but shows an area where this flow could cause flooding of a proposed building. The proposed development should not increase the risk of flooding of any building, existing or proposed."

Mr Barber added that Forth Ports must take account of the extra pressure that increased water flow caused by climate change will have on the risk of discharge equipment in the docks failing.

But a Forth Ports spokesman said: "The transport, traffic and engineering department's letter contains material inaccuracies and Forth Ports does not agree with its conclusions.

"The environmental statement submitted with the application demonstrates that there is no increased flood risk as a result of the proposed development."

Forth Ports has applied for outline planning permission for developing the area around Ocean Terminal. Among the projects planned are a waterside esplanade and a new cruise liner terminal and visitor centre for The Royal Yacht Britannia.

Shaeron Averbuch, secretary of the Leith community regeneration group, Joined-Up Master Planning, said:

You can't ignore the issue of flooding and rising sea levels but I don't think it should be a barrier to development."