OBJECTIONS have been made against plans to build 37 houses on land beside the River Irwell in Radcliffe.

Residents who narrowly avoided being flooded this month have voiced their concerns about building on the former Halls factory complex, off Morris Street.

The Averill Group hopes to develop part of the site to create 21 two-bedroom and 16 three-bedroom affordable rented houses.

But residents whose homes in Morris Street were flooded on Boxing Day 2015 when the Irwell burst its banks, fear the proposed development would “add to the flood risk downstream.”

Colette Jones, of Parkside Close, who chairs the Radcliffe and Redvales Flood Action Group, said: “On February 9, Morris Street only just escaped flooding. The more they build, the greater the risk of people being flooded. Water that would have absorbed into the ground will have nowhere to go.”

Lindsay Challinor, of Morris Street, submitted this objection via Bury Council’s planning portal: “I strongly object to this proposal. This area is necessary to absorb the water when the river floods, and when it has nowhere to go our street bears the brunt.”

The Averill Group says the site where they intend to build did not flood at the weekend. Director Luke Averill said: “We understand residents' concerns and have been working with the Environment Agency tirelessly over the last nine months to ensure that any development is protected from flooding as well as ensuring that the surrounding areas are also protected.

"In addition, to assist in the delivery of the flood defence programme, the EA is using the site as their compound until summer 2021.”

The first phase of a £40million flood defence scheme is currently under construction in Close Park.