FLOOD defences in Crindau are set to be given planning permission at a meeting on Wednesday.

Natural Resources Wales have submitted the application for a flood alleviation scheme consisting of concrete walls, embankments and ground raising between the southern boundary of the former Sainsbury’s site to the north of Newport Castle and the M4 Bridge to the north of Albany Street.

Newport City Council’s planning officers have recommended the committee grants permission.

The application support NRW’s stated long-term objectives to provide sustainable flood defences, which “prevent deaths, minimise property damage and reduce distress from flooding”.

The environmental report explains that the Crindau area of Newport has a long history of tidal flooding and the existing tidal defences at Crindau Pill are in a poor condition, offering a level of protection of approximately one in 10 years.

As a result, approximately 650 properties are at risk of flooding in a one in 200 year flood event.

The Crindau area was badly affected by flooding in December 1981 and a number of smaller incidents occurred between 1990 and 1991 as a result of high tide surge levels that originate in the Bristol Channel.

It is proposed to construct new raised defences along the River Usk and Crindau Pill to exclude tidal flood waters from the urbanised areas of Crindau.

Planning officers conclude that the scheme would allow many dwellings to be protected against the consequences of flooding.

They say in addition, the development “would not cause an adverse impact in terms of flooding elsewhere” and the scheme would also bring about “streetscene enhancements, while not creating a situation that would lead to any land becoming sterile from development potential”.

The defence barriers will cover areas around Waterside Court, Lyne Road Bridge, Shaftesbury Park, Pugsley Street allotments and the former Sainsbury’s supermarket site.