A York car park which is prone to flooding could be set to get new defences.

The Environment Agency has submitted a planning application to City of York Council for the defences in St George's Field car park, an often hit area for flooding.

Adjacent to the River Ouse, at Skeldergate Bridge, St George's Field often closes for periods throughout winter, with cars caught in the floodwater.

In November 2023, City of York Council reviewed the planning application, but chose to defer it until clearer drawings were made, further modelling work was done, and until it could gather more information on how to make the car park's ramp accessible.

A van caught in floodwater in the car park, December 2023 (Image: Harry Booth)

The new application - which is recommended for approval - says it will benefit 627 properties in the nearby area.

Proposals include: raising and strengthening the existing flood defence at Skeldergate bridge, creating a new wall at the north-east corner of the car park, and increasing the height of the current access ramp to the car park - to get it closer to the "target flood defence height".

"Any trees that are felled as part of the approved development shall be replaced on a ratio of five new trees for every one felled," a report submitted with the application said.

If approved, a nine metre deep 'seepage' trench would be built in front of the barrier. The trench would be built with a clay material to prevent seepage around the flood defence.

Water approaching the car park last winter (Image: Harry Booth)

New walls will join to Skeldergate bridge and the Foss barrier pumping station.

The report added: "The construction compound would be a temporary structure only and practically needs to be in close proximity to the planned works and in an area where it would have the least environmental effect.

"The car park area is appropriate in this respect."

Ahead of the council's planning committee meeting tomorrow  (Thursday, September 26) the application has been recommended to be approved.

If approved, work would start "within three years", the report added.