Tesco gets permission for raised car park to combat flooding

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 4 Nov, 21:46 · Archive

A Tesco superstore in Bognor Regis has won approval for a metre-high raised car park to stay open during floods.

Arun District Council approved a raised car park at Tesco Superstore on Shripney Road, Bognor Regis, on 3 November. The store sits alongside the Aldingbourne Rife and has been repeatedly affected by flooding, closing for nearly three weeks in late 2023 after heavy rain and again in early 2024 for four weeks, followed by another week when customers could only arrive on foot.

The approved deck will sit approximately one metre above the existing car park at its eastern edge and will provide 191 parking spaces, including 22 disabled bays and 18 parent-and-child spaces. This reduces total car park capacity across the site from 504 spaces to 464, a loss of 40 spaces, though this is still expected to exceed peak demand. Space beneath the deck is designed to allow floodwater to flow through, with a robotic device proposed for maintenance and cleaning.

The scheme also includes drainage upgrades, such as a new outlet into the Aldingbourne Rife, and the planting of 36 trees. Planning officers said the improvements would reduce water discharge into the river. However, both West Sussex County Council's lead flood authority and Arun District Council's drainage engineers objected, citing concerns over flood risk, drainage standards and long-term maintenance. BBC Sussex reports that flood specialists were concerned about ongoing upkeep of the drainage system.

Although the scheme did not meet all national drainage standards, planning officers said the flood resilience and access benefits outweighed those concerns. Some residents cited fears of increased flooding impacting neighbouring properties, while others said the development would help protect jobs. Approval was granted subject to conditions, including detailed drainage plans and measures to offset any loss of floodwater storage, before work can begin.

Tesco gets permission for raised car park to combat flooding — Image: BBC Sussex

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How it is being reported

Flood-hit Tesco wins approval for raised car parkFlood specialists say there are concerns around flood risks and drainage standards.BBC Sussex · 4 Nov, 15:25
Raised car park at Bognor Regis store approved despite objectionsPlans to build a raised car park at Tesco in Bognor Regis have been approved despite objections from council drainage specialists.Chichester Observer · 4 Nov, 15:21
Supermarket blighted by flooding can build metre-high raised car parkArun District Council approved the deck at Tesco Superstore in Shripney Road, Bognor Regis, on November 3, subject to conditionsThe Argus · 4 Nov, 14:45

In this story: Tesco · Arun District Council · Bognor Regis · Aldingbourne Rife · West Sussex County Council

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