A waterways trust has raised flood risk fears in response to a 95-home proposal between two canals.

The Island, behind the Premier Inn in Rickmansworth, would become the site of two three-storey blocks of 51 and 44 apartments under an outline application submitted last week.

The planning application is set to be considered by Three Rivers District Council and during the consultation period some Rickmansworth residents have objected to the location.

The land is currently occupied by a single house and is accessed via a bridge from Church Wharf.

“It’s a really surprising application,” said Rickmansworth Waterways Trust chairman David Montague. “There is a lot of concern from local residents. It's challenging to imagine how it could go ahead.”

In an objection letter, he described the proposal as “an overbearing development which would totally change the character of the area much used and enjoyed by local residents”.

The trust also fears that residential boaters who moor past the lift bridge used to access the site could be affected. The bridge would be replaced under the plan, initially by a temporary bridge for works and then with a larger permanent one, but how far this would impact canal access is apparently unclear.

Block plan for the development, showing the proposed access outlined in red.Block plan for the development, showing the proposed access outlined in red. (Image: ME Architects/ Three Rivers District Council planning portal.)

Four other objections have been added to the planning portal in the first week after the proposal went in. Particular worries for neighbours are the impact on wildlife and flood risk.

A houseboat resident said they see "deer, geese, herons, woodpeckers, and a multitude of wildlife on the island every day”.

One person claimed the area is “regularly” flooded while another highlighted a time when it flooded particularly badly in 2014.

Designs only include 16 parking spaces, which was also flagged as a potential issue by multiple objectors.

3D view of the proposed development.3D view of the proposed development. (Image: ME Architects / Three Rivers District Council Planning Portal)

Meanwhile, planning documents highlight that all of the homes would be designated as affordable, and due to a shortfall in affordable housing this would amount to the ‘very special circumstances’ needed to develop in the green belt.

They also state that the buildings would be fully flood-proof and tests suggest the development would be safe for its lifetime.

They add that “the canals surrounding the site are considered an asset” and the design is intended to maximise views over the water and retain as much greenery as possible.

Urbana Town Planning, which designed the scheme, declined to comment on the objections at this time.