Concerning aerial pictures reveal the extent of flooding on land where a new luxury leisure centre will be built.

Plans for a David Lloyd club in Ashford, which will include four swimming pools, tennis courts, a gym and spa, were approved in August.

At the time, fears were raised over the extra traffic the scheme, set for the Waterbrook Park estate, would attract.

Now, concerns over the flood risk have been raised after pictures taken this month show the majority of the site in Arrowhead Road as being underwater and laced in mud - just metres from the East Stour river.

Ben Thompson, who runs the Finberry and Bridgefield Wildlife Group on neighbouring estates, says he has big concerns about the health club being built on a flooding hotspot.

The 37-year-old said: "Waterbrook is historically a key site for storing flood waters and it’s also great for wildlife.

"[But] there needs to be a clear plan where all this displaced water will go.

"The whole area would be completely underwater if it wasn’t for the Aldington flood reservoir upstream holding much of it back but that is often at a high capacity.

"It’s all going to be pushed into the East Stour and then the Stour which will cause more flash flooding events.

"Waterbrook is currently acting as a floodplain to keep most of this water back. I wonder if the cumulative effects of taking out the floodplains are being looked at from development to development - it seems to be just a site-by-site basis."

David Lloyd is to build the sprawling facility just off the A2070 Bad Munstereifel Road on a patch previously earmarked for a huge Amazon warehouse.

Kent Highways already raised concerns over its impact on the recently installed four-way Bellamy Gurner junction next to the site.

But Ashford Borough Council (ABC) stated more cars would not significantly impact the area, with a transport statement submitted by the developers outlining the scheme would not result in a noticeable level of additional traffic.

The flood defence for the area is provided by the Aldington reservoir upstream as opposed to raised defences surrounding the site.

However, several watercourses exist nearby with some parts of the East Stour designated as Flood Zone 2 and 3 - the latter of which is defined as land with a high risk of flooding from rivers.

Cllr Paul Bartlett, ABC member, acknowledges the recent flooding is a concern but says the developer needs to be “trusted”.

The Conservative representative for Mersham, Sevington South with Finberry said: "The flooding is extraordinary. If you concrete over land which absorbs water all you do is displace that water somewhere else.

"Waterbrook is protected by the Aldington reservoir, although that has topped out three times in the last few years so it isn't infallible but does protect South Ashford from flooding.

"But we have to trust David Lloyd and the Environment Agency knows what they're doing when it comes to draining the water from the site before they start building, and the effect of this on adjoining land.

"The site has also become a nesting ground site for birds who enjoy water, so the plan needs to be two-fold in terms of making sure the water goes somewhere else but also so the wildlife are able to move to an area which is amenable to those particular species.”

Despite the increasing concerns, David Lloyd has defended its decision to build the complex at Waterbrook Park - currently home to birds such as barn owls, red-listed nightingales and Cetti’s warblers.

A spokesperson said: "At David Lloyd Clubs we are committed to making a positive contribution in the communities and environment in which we operate.

"The planning consent for the new club includes a robust and sustainable drainage strategy which will be implemented as part of the construction programme."

The site was previously home to a farmhouse, demolished more than 40 years ago, called Waterbrook Farm. Over the years, the land has also operated for industrial use.

The David Lloyd facility is set to open in 2026 and will be served by 248 parking spaces. Among the four swimming pools will be a five-lane indoor pool, a learner pool, a 25-metre outdoor pool and a children's facility.

The club will also come with a lounge where food and drink would be served. An inflatable air dome is set to cover the three tennis courts, allowing people to play the sport all year round and in all weather conditions.

It is also due to include a Battle Box facility - a black shipping container full of the equipment needed for full-body, high-energy fitness training sessions.

The leisure club will join two other David Lloyd facilities in Kent - Kings Hill, near Maidstone, and Dartford - while another is currently being built in Herne Bay.

It is not yet clear how much membership fees will cost but in Dartford, prices start from £139 a month.

David Lloyd is just one of many developments looking to move into Waterbrook Park, which is already home to a Barretts Land Rover dealership and the Ashford International Truckstop.

German supermarket chain Aldi was granted planning permission for a new store there in November 2022. The chain has a branch in Victoria Road already, and has plans for a third in Kennington.

A new Taco Bell drive-thru will also open alongside a KFC.

Meanwhile, a total of 364 homes at Waterbrook Park were given the green light in December 2023. A convenience store, farm shop or cafe will also be built in the middle of the estate next to a new roundabout.