Flood-hit Tesco wins approval for raised car park
Eddie MitchellA raised car park at a Tesco store in a West Sussex seaside town has been approved despite objections from council drainage specialists.
The scheme to raise some spaces in the car park of its supermarket on Shripney Road in Bognor Regis by 2m (6ft 6in), allowing customers to park there during periods of flooding, has been approved by Arun District Council.
The store was closed for nearly three weeks after flooding in 2023, when the car park flooded following heavy rain.
The supermarket sits alongside the Aldingbourne Rife, meaning sections of the car park might become inundated when water levels rise, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The new deck provides an additional 191 parking spaces, including 22 disabled bays and 18 parent-and-child spaces.
The scheme also includes drainage upgrades, such as a new outlet into the Aldingbourne Rife, and the planting of 36 trees.
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.
Planning officers said the scheme would improve drainage by reducing water discharge into the river.
Although it did not meet all national drainage standards, they said the flood resilience and access benefits outweighed those concerns.
Some residents cited fears of increased flooding impacting neighbouring properties, while some said they believed 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.
Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, X, and Instagram and listen to BBC Radio Sussex on Sounds. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.
