Plans for housing and business developments in East Ayrshire face major revision after an environment protection agency warned of potential flooding issues.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA) flood policy, which includes an updated flood map showing areas of land that were previously considered suitable for development could affect plans for house and business building included in the council’s Local Development Plan 2.

The flood map highlights areas in Catrine and New Cumnock as being particularly susceptible to flooding, with up to 800 people potentially at risk of flood effects in New Cumnock alone.

A council report on the new SEPA guidelines concentrates on flooding effects in Kilmarnock, but according to David McDowall, interim Head of Planning & Economic Development, “ the advice will apply to other areas or parts of them, in East Ayrshire. Catrine is specifically mentioned twice, in terms of annual average damages and as follows in terms of risk: ‘most of the low lying central area and around the former mill site; Riverside Villas, and Co-operation Avenue’.”

One of the areas identified for development in the LDP2 was a site at Ballochmyle View Catrine, earmarked for a housing development which is in an area deemed at risk of flooding.

Figures within East Ayrshire Council are not happy with the new SEPA ruling

Council Leader Douglas Reid, said: “The seriousness of this situation cannot be underestimated.

“his is a worrying report, and it’s only right, in the interest of our communities, that we set out exactly what the implications of SEPA’s approach really mean in terms of the future of our local economy and town centre regeneration aspirations. The viability of our town centres is being threatened.

“Now we have to face the possibility that future investment in our town centres will be severely restricted as SEPA will refuse to sanction proposals which contravene their view of the impact of flooding.”

McDowall added: “Although climate change is an issue, this has also partly arisen because SEPA changed their advice in 2018 in terms of what risk of flooding was acceptable on a development site.”

It means that the council will have to go back to the drawing board.