Major milestone reached for Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme

A significant milestone has been reached this week in the development of the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme, bringing this long-anticipated project a step closer to reality and promising to reduce flood risk in Oxford for decades to come.

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has confirmed the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), giving the project approval to proceed with acquiring land and securing access needed for construction.

Led by the Environment Agency in partnership with nine other organisations, the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme is one of the largest planned flood schemes in England. It will create a new stream and wetland wildlife corridor to the west of Oxford, working with the natural floodplain by lowering the land to increase its capacity.

Once in place, the scheme will reduce the flood risk to all properties currently vulnerable to flooding from the River Thames, providing vital reassurance for more than 160,000 residents as the impacts of climate change increase.

This progress follows the earlier decision by Oxfordshire County Council to grant planning permission for the scheme. That decision was made separately from the CPO process.

As part of the legal process, the Environment Agency made a Compulsory Purchase Order for the land needed. Some landowners raised objections, which were considered during a public inquiry.

An independent Inspector reviewed the objections and the case in favour of the scheme, before recommending the order to the Secretary of State, who has now confirmed it.

The new flood scheme is designed to handle a major flood on the scale of the 1947 event, much larger than any flooding Oxford has seen in recent decades. With heavier rainfall expected due to climate change, the scheme will play a crucial role in protecting people, homes and infrastructure.

In addition to its flood protection benefits, the scheme will enhance the natural environment. A new stream, fed by the River Thames, will meander through gently sloping grazing meadows. New footpaths and cycleways will run alongside it, offering views of wildflowers and wetland habitats and providing a valuable recreational space for the community.

Now that the CPO has been confirmed, the Environment Agency can exercise its statutory powers to acquire the necessary land and rights. Once this process is complete, construction is expected to begin in late 2026.

The scheme is part of the Government’s record £2.65 billion two-year investment in building and repairing flood defences across the country.

Councillor Nigel Chapman, Cabinet Member for Citizen Focused Services and Council Companies, Oxford City Council, said: “It is great news that DEFRA has approved the purchase of the land needed for the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme. This marks another significant milestone in the development of the project, bringing it closer to reality.

“Oxford has a long history of flooding, and each year we experience wetter winters, making flooding an increasingly frequent event. This essential scheme will help to reduce flood risk and protect residents and businesses in Oxford from the devastating effects of flooding.”

Floods Minister Emma Hardy said: “The role of Government is to protect its citizens, but flood defences were inherited in their worst condition on record.

“Through our Plan for Change, a record £2.65 billion is going into building and repairing flood defences over the next two years.

“The Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme is a vital new piece of infrastructure that will deliver economic growth in Oxfordshire, better protect homes and businesses and deliver new jobs.”

Robbie Williams, Project Director for the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme, said: “We’re delighted to have received approval to progress with purchasing the land needed for the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme to go ahead.

“This is a major step forward for the project, ensuring we can bring this vital flood protection to the city. As we face increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather, the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme is more urgently needed than ever. We can now all look forward to starting work on putting the scheme into place.”

Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor Champion, Lord Vallance, said: “Flooding is a risk to both lives and livelihoods. This scheme will make Oxford more resilient, helping to protect the infrastructure, business premises and homes which all underpin the region’s economy.

“Our ambitions for the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor can only be met by us stepping up to face challenges like this. Safeguarding Oxford in this way reinforces our work to turbo-charge investment and growth in the city and beyond, as part of the Plan for Change.”