Chesterfield Council approves plan to buy and demolish flood-hit street where 83 year old drowned

Chesterfield Borough Council has given the green light to a long-term plan for the purchase and demolition of homes in a vulnerable flood-prone neighbourhood of a Derbyshire town after serious and ongoing flood risks with problems and a fatality during nearly two decades.

The council voted unanimously at a meeting on July 15 to approve the Flood Risk Management Project for Tapton Terrace, in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, which has suffered flooding problems since at least 2007 as well as the death of an 83-year-old woman during Storm Babet in October, 2023.

A council spokesperson stated: “The council will take a lead role in delivering the Tapton Terrace project, in partnership with the Environment Agency, to remove the risk to life caused by flooding by acquiring and subsequently demolishing the properties, subject to approval of an Outline Business Case by Government.”

Derbyshire police confirmed Maureen Gilbert, died aged 83, at her home on Tapton Terrace, in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, on October 21, 2023, after her neighbourhood was flooded during Storm Babet in October, 2023.

The Government had also confirmed in March that Tapton Terrace was to receive funding for a defence project from a share of £1.4bn of flood defence funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to support the Environment Agency with schemes across England.

During Storm Babet, between October 18 to 21, in 2023, around 1,600 properties were flooded in Derbyshire which led to an investigation into the emergency by Derbyshire County Council – the county’s Lead Local Flood Authority – with plans to help those parts of the county that flooded either from surface water or from river flooding.

The body of Maureen Gilbert was found at her home on Tapton Terrace, in Chesterfield, on the morning of October 21, 2023, by her son Paul Gilbert, a Chesterfield Coroners Court heard in September, 2025.

Coroner Matthew Kewley ruled that Mrs Gilbert had died in her home ‘due to drowning in flood waters due to Storm Babet’.

The court heard that the property concerned is located next to the River Rother and was prone to flooding with the property previously suffering flood damage in 2007.

Additional flood prevention measures were installed at a number of properties at Tapton Terrace in 2019, including Mrs Gilbert’s house, but they were not sufficient to stop the 2023 floods, according to the inquest into Mrs Gilbert’s death.

The Coroner indicated plans to issue a prevention of future deaths report following the inquest to examine what measures could be implemented to reduce risks for Tapton Terrace residents.

Chesterfield Borough Council confirmed that the project for Tapton Terrace followed the tragic death of resident Maureen Gilbert during severe flooding and subsequent recommendations from the Coroner highlighting the need for action to help prevent future loss of life.

Following a review of options, including flood defences and property flood resilience measures, the Environment Agency concluded that purchasing and demolishing the homes on Tapton Terrace, and preventing future development on the land, offers the only effective and viable long-term solution to keep residents safe.

Despite the tragedy, flood prevention measures during Storm Babet did protect as many as 7,000 properties from flooding in Derbyshire, according to the county council, although some communities were isolated for days with some areas of Chesterfield seeing three to four feet of floodwater in their homes.

The Environment Agency explained a Flood Resilience Taskforce, including the Government, emergency responders and local partners, has been working since September 2024 to assess the impact of recent winter storms and to accelerate action to protect communities.

It also concluded that alternative options assessed for Tapton Terrace would not provide viable, long-term protection for the properties, where the flood risk is already significant, and problem are expected to increase because of climate change.

Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins said efforts to protect Tapton Terrace, in particular, as well other Chesterfield communities have redoubled since the 2023 floods.

Home owners have been reassured that they will receive a fair market payment for their property, according to the council, alongside compensation recognising disruption and loss.

The council says residents who rent their homes will also be supported and compensated for the loss of their home and the associated disruption and the authority is appointing a dedicated Project Liaison Officer to provide support and a single point of contact for residents throughout the process.

Plans remain at a very early stage, according to the council, and no residents are being asked to move immediately and any further updates, including detailed timelines, will be shared with residents as the project develops.

Council Chief Executive Christine Durrant said the council’s thoughts remain with Maureen Gilbert’s family and friends, and everyone on Tapton Terrace affected by flooding.

She added: “The Environment Agency’s recommendation reflects the serious long-term flood risk facing these homes.

“As the local authority, we will work with our partners to progress this project carefully while supporting the residents with clear information and practical help throughout.

“We know this news can be unsettling, and we are committed to supporting each household as our plans develop.”

Environment Agency Area Director for Yorkshire Lyn Peart said the Environment Agency understands how devastating flooding can be for individuals, families and the wider community, and its thoughts also remain with everyone affected.

Ms Peart added: “Following the Coroner’s Prevention of Future Deaths report, we have worked closely and urgently with partners to ensure that reducing the flood risk for residents at Tapton Terrace is a clear and immediate priority.

“We have been working hand‑in‑hand with Chesterfield Borough Council to identify a solution that offers long-term protection and will continue to support the council and residents every step of the way as this vital project progresses.”

Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins said he recognised the purchase and demolition of homes, unable to be protected from floods, will be bittersweet to Tapton Terrace residents who continue to ‘live in fear’ of a repeat of the terrible floods in 2023.

Mr Perkins added: “Working with residents, Chesterfield Borough Council and the Environment Agency it has become clear, following the coroner’s report, that the risk to life, caused by the unique geography of Tapton Terrace was too great and that no workable solution would offer residents there the security they deserve.

“This will be difficult for residents who have built their lives and memories here, but the evidence shows that there is no viable long-term way to make these homes safe. I also know from my own consultation with residents that most of them accept this and now want to move on.”

Mr Perkins has also said that he has been ‘resolute’ that residents must receive appropriate compensation that enables them to move on, whether they are property owners or tenants, and that he will continue working with all the agencies involved to make sure this happens.

The council agreed at the recent meeting that it will take a lead role in the delivery of the project with the Environment Agency and it approved in principle the use of compulsory purchase order powers.

It also confirmed that the project will be fully funded by Government grant funding which was also agreed by the council at its recent meeting.

Ms Durrant said: “I welcome Full Council’s decision on Wednesday, 15 July, to add the Tapton Terrace project to the capital programme, following Cabinet’s recommendation the previous day.

“This important step means work can now begin, in partnership with the Environment Agency, to prevent any future loss of life from flooding at these homes.

“We remain committed to supporting all the residents affected by this decision and are working to develop support tailored to their individual circumstances.”