TOWN hall chiefs have hit out at claims that nearly a quarter of new homes in Bury are on land at risk of flooding.

Bosses at Bury Council state that recently published government figures, which show that 23 per cent of new homes in the borough were built in areas designated as National Flood Zone three, are incorrect.

National Flood Zone three is the highest category of flood risk, representing areas with a one in 100 or greater annual probability of river flooding.

Instead, the council says, that less than one per cent of new homes are said to be at high risk.

A council spokesman said: “The figures quoted are completely wrong. It has been quoted that nearly a quarter of our new homes are in Flood Zone three – it’s actually less than one per cent.

“In the last three years, there have been 1,157 new residential addresses created in the borough. Some 248 of these (21.4 per cent) have been at Hardy’s Gate.

“The issue seems to be that the Hardy’s Gate development has been listed as being in Flood Zone 3, when in fact ground levels were raised to lift it out of the flood zone.

“It would appear that these addresses were registered before the Flood Zone boundary was updated.

“Anyone can apply to build in a flood zone. We take the Environment Agency’s advice on whether the development will flood or cause others to flood. We have not approved any housing in flood areas where the Environment Agency have objected.

“The Environment Agency has now confirmed that it is updating its maps and this will show a lower risk level for Hardy’s Gate following the land raising done as part of flood risk mitigation.

“In the meantime, the council is totally committed to working alongside the Environment Agency and locally affected residents to prepare a flood defence scheme for the Radcliffe and Redvales area.”

The figures show that just one per cent of new houses built in neighbouring Bolton between 2013 and 2016 are in areas designated as National Flood Zone three.

In Salford eight per cent of new houses are listed as being in Flood Zone three and Rochdale has two per cent.

The new data was published by housing minister Gavin Barwell, who said: “National planning policy is clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk.

“Where development is necessary in a flood risk area and there are no suitable sites available in areas with a lower probability of flooding, it should be safe, flood resilient and not increase flood risk elsewhere.

“Otherwise, it should not be permitted.

"The department’s statistics report only the proportion of new residential addresses created in Flood Zone three areas; they do not reflect the safety measures incorporated.

“For example they do not take account of the presence of flood defences.”