DEVELOPERS face a race against time to keep alive their hopes of keeping intact planning consent for 83 homes on the former Wisbech Town FC site at Lerowe Road.

What was expected to be a routine bid to renew consent first given three years ago has turned partially sour for Purple Properties Ltd who must quickly produce new reports for Fenland planners.

Officials say in the absence of an acceptable flood risk assessment the application is not acceptable and the owners have been given two months to submit their new proposals.

Fenland Council say there’s nothing wrong in principle with the scheme but since permission was given the Environment Agency has advised the existing flood risk assessment is not acceptable.

The current report “does not provide a suitable basis for an assessment to be made for the flood risks arising from the proposed development” concludes Fenland planners.

The existing permission expires on January 20 and Purple Properties must get their revised proposals accepted before then to be able to extend the consents.

Wisbech Town Council would like the scheme refused anyway, claiming there have been changes locally since the original application.

Eight local residents have also petitioned the council saying that whilst they have no objections to homes on the site, 83 are too many.

They also want the old buildings cleared “as there are problems on the site at presence concerning unauthorised access, rat infestation and low water pressure.”