Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has taken a step back on a controversial proposal to build a dam in Dinas Powys woods to reduce the flood risks that face properties in the nearby area.

The dam received a lot of backlash from the local community and environmental groups due to the ancient woodland that would be destroyed in the building process.

It would have seen a 350 sq m dam built at the loss of the nearby Cwm George and Casehill woods.

Protests were staged and local residents rallied together against the proposals.

In NRW's Outline Business Case (OCB), released today, they state that: ''Based on our latest assessments, the risks and what we've heard from stakeholders and the community, we do not think that there is currently a viable scheme to deliver a community-wide solution to manage the flood risk in Dinas Powys.''

It continues: ''There is a significant flood risk in this area and we have sought to find a solution that is acceptable to the community, which in this instance is far from straight forward.

''Ordinarily, we seek to deliver flood schemes that reduce the risk of flooding to the whole community to a low level (or to as much of the community and to as low a level as technically feasible), that are economically viable and that have the broad support of a community.

''For the reasons explained above, we do not think there is currently such a solution in Dinas Powys.''

NRW identified a high flood risk in Dinas Powys from the Cadoxton River and its tributary the East Brook.

• They have predicted that 197 homes and 19 businesses have a 1% (1 in 100) chance of flooding each year.

• 94 of these homes are at high flood risk, having greater than 3.33% (1 in 30) chance of flooding each year.

• Due to climate change, they predict that this will rise to 368 homes and 50 businesses at a 1% (1 in 100) chance by 2117.

NRW looked at a number of options to reduce this risk, such as, natural flood management, improving river flow, upstream storage and flood defences.

The ideal target is to manage flood risk to a 'low' level. Low means that each year a property has less than a 1% (1 in 100) chance of flooding.

The options were all critiqued by NRW in their OCB.

The conclusion was reached that: ''Combining upstream storage on the Cadoxton River and channel storage on the East Brook would provide the best community wide-solution as most (193) homes would be protected to a low level of flood risk.

''However, it is marginally economically viable (the benefits just outweigh the costs) and it has environmental and social risks and impacts.

''The combined option above provides the highest level of protection to the greatest number of properties, with more benefits than costs, but we recognise that it has some significant potential environmental and social impacts.''

These include:

• Loss of an important area of ancient woodland and broadleaved woodland.

• Impact to a wider area of ancient woodland and wider areas of broadleaved woodland through occasional flooding.

• Potential impacts to protected species (bats, dormice, kingfisher, otters, badgers, reptiles, amphibians) and licencing requirements.

• Potential impacts to the river that would affect its Water Framework Directive status.

• Landowner agreement to undertake the works.

• Potential impacts or amendments to existing Public Right of Ways, walking routes and open space.

• Given the above factors, it is possible that the planning application process and statutory Environmental Impact Assessment will not be straightforward.

• Lack of broad community support.

NRW is now asking for further public consultation. They state: ''We've listened to what stakeholders and the community are saying and have fed this into the options appraisal.

''In order to help us further consider whether or not there is a viable option to reduce the flood risk for the properties affected, we welcome the community's and stakeholders' feedback on the draft outline business case and what should happen next.''

Tim England, Operations Manager (Flood and Water Management) for NRW, said: "Flooding can devastate people's lives and it's our job to look at ways to manage the flood risk in our communities across Wales.

"We believe we've considered all practicable ways to reduce the risk to the community in Dinas Powys, but unfortunately there appears to be no perfect solution.

"The reasons for this are different for each option considered. Some are not technically possible to build, some would be too expensive and impractical, and others carry risks that could materialise to become too expensive.

"We are listening to and considering the views of the community, landowners and other stakeholders throughout this process to inform how we move forward.

"Over the next few weeks we will be speaking with people to explain our findings, and we would like to hear their views."

Please provide your feedback by 27 March 2020. You can do this by emailing [email protected] or by post to Natural Resources Wales, Projects Delivery, Floor 1, 29 Newport Road, Cardiff. CF24 0TP.

Read the full breakdown by visiting NRW's website and visiting the Dinas Powys Flood Scheme.

You can see one of the major protests that Nub News covered by clicking the red button at the bottom of this article.