The developer's agent says:
"In order to raise finished floor levels above the maximum flood level should defences fail, approximately 1.5 m of raising would be required.
This would result in the development failing to meet accessibility criteria and lead to an increase in flood risk elsewhere. In addition, raising of finished floor levels would require the creation of new compensatory voids
to accommodate the displaced volume of flooding. If this were to be included on the site it would result in the significant de-scoping of the major upgrades provided (such as removal of the training pitch, loss of car parking and removal of the fan zone) thereby undermining the principle of the proposals to provide upgraded stadium and training facilities. Having the fans seated at a higher level would undermine the intimate atmosphere of the historic stadium, one of the features it is famous and valued for.
Raising finished floor levels would also raise construction costs which have been carefully assessed to provide the maximum benefits and to meet the Superleague stadium criteria. Any increase in construction costs would mean that the other upgrades to the facilities would need to be descoped resulting in Wheldon Road failing to meet the required stadium standards. Raising of finished floor levels is therefore deemed unviable."
