Millfield Academy - Find a freedom of information request

1. I would like to know what planning committee granted planning permission to build Millfield Academy on land formerly known as Mill Pond.

2. For my request I want to know, specifically why planning permission was given to build the school on land that was well known to be flooded.

I am writing to inform you that we have searched our records and some of the information you requested is not held by Lincolnshire County Council.  I have detailed below the information that is held.  

It is noted that Millfield Primary Academy at Heighington is located within flood zones 2 and 3.

The primary school was previously owned by Lincolnshire County Council but has since transitioned to become an Academy in 2011. It is unknown when the original school was built and what planning permissions were granted in regards to this. We do have records of three permissions granted by the County Council as set out below. Given the location of the school site within flood zones 2 and 3, the case officers at the time would have considered the risk of flooding and consulted the relevant statutory bodies as appropriate. No objections/issues were received in regards to this matter.

• N.32/682/94 (decision date: 19 August 1994) - to station a mobile classroom.
• N/32/0626/99 (decision date: 09 September 1999) - to retain a relocatable classroom unit.
• N/32/1087/02 (decision date: 30 October 2002) - to erect a new classroom and extend hall.

After the school transitioned to an Academy, any future permissions as set out below would have been granted by North Kesteven District Council. These applications can be viewed via their online planning register. It is clear from the application documents that whilst more modern developments within the school site have again received no objections from the relevant statutory bodies in regards to flood risk, conditions were attached to a number of the permissions requiring finished floor levels to be set above the site ground level. Comments received from the Parish Council suggest that flooding incidents in 2007 and 2012 were a result of rising ground water and surface water runoff, rather than from the adjacent Heighington Beck. As such, raised floor levels of buildings would have helped to mitigate any impact.

• 12/0181/FUL (decision date: 26 April 2012) - erection of a single storey temporary building to be used as a nursery.
• 12/0368/FUL (decision date: 31 May 2012) - erection of timber outdoor classroom.
• 13/0629/FUL (decision date: 16 August 2013) - erection of conservatory extension to reception classroom.
• 14/1576/FUL (decision date: 12 February 2015) - extensions to form 2 no. new classrooms and ancillary accommodation together with extension to car park.