Flood risk assessments in Oxford and Oxfordshire

The Unda team have considerable experience in delivering Flood Risk Assessment reports for individuals and businesses based in Oxford and the surrounding towns and villages across Oxfordshire. We work with a broad range of planning, property and agricultural clients including architects, planning consultants, farmers and landowners. Through extensive experience in negotiating with the Environment Agency and Local Planning Authorities we have secured a high planning approval rate for our client’s developments.

Impact of flooding on people and the economy of Oxfordshire

Flooding has a significant impact on the people and economy of Oxfordshire. Whilst it is not possible to prevent all possible local flooding, the relevant authorities, local communities and businesses can work together to reduce the risk and minimise the damage it can cause.

Oxford Flood Alliance:

Oxford Flood Alliance are a community group, formed in 2007. They campaign to reduce flooding in the Oxford area. Seven rivers (River Thames and tributaries of the River Thames; River Cherwell, River Swere, River Dorn, River Glyme, River Windrush, River Evenlode, River Ray, River Thame) meet at Oxford so the city’s very vulnerable, flooding six times since 2000. Climate change looks likely to make things worse. Working with the public bodies responsible for flooding, we’ve had real successes already, but more needs to be done. Houses and businesses need better protection, roads must be kept passable, the City open for business, all in the face of a probably worsening climate.

Hence they;

• support for, and participation in, the proposed multi-partner Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme and the Abingdon flood risk management schemes.
• emphasis on maintaining existing waterways so that they work as well as possible. We want to see more being done to encourage and help riparian owners fulfil their responsibilities.

If you would like to know more about these schemes please contact the team directly: oxfordandabingdon@environment-agency.gov.uk. Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/oxford-flood-risk-management-scheme.

Oxford Area Flood Partnership (OAFP):

Oxford Area Flood Partnership (OAFP) was formed after the floods in 2003, to reduce flood risk in the Oxford Area. OAFP responds to flooding problems raised by members of the public and welcomes information that will help in understanding flooding.

The group brings together the agencies that have flooding responsibilities, including the Environment Agency, Thames Water, Network Rail, the County Council, the City Council and Vale of White Horse District Council.

The agencies each look after different parts of the vast network of pipes, culverts, ditches and rivers that carry water through Oxford. However, riparian owners (whose land includes or adjoins waterways) are also responsible for keeping those waterways open.

The agencies share information about flooding in the Oxford area and help each other to develop affordable remedies when problems involve two or more partners.

OAFP produces a booklet about flooding in the Oxford Area, and an advice leaflet. You can download these and a flood map below:

Oxford Area Flood Information(975kB PDF) – Guidance on management of flooding & flood risk
Guide on how to prepare for flooding (623kB PDF)
Oxford Area flood map (1560kB PDF)

OAFP reviews the booklet each year and would be pleased to receive your comments on ways to improve it.

National Flood Forum (NFF):

The National Flood Forum (NFF) is a national charity dedicated to supporting and representing communities and individuals at risk of flooding. We do this by:

1. Helping people to prepare for flooding in order to prevent it or mitigate its impacts
2. Helping people to recover their lives once they have been flooded
3. Campaigning on behalf of flood risk communities and working with government and agencies to ensure that they develop a community perspective.

The NFF works with government, agencies and local authorities on issues such as flood risk insurance, property level protection and recovery to ensure that the needs of flood risk communities are represented

The NFF also provides a strong and independent voice that represents the interests of people affected by flooding. This includes working closely with national and local government agencies, flood protection companies and the insurance industry, as well as flood action groups to ensure that the views and issues of those at risk of flooding are taken into account when decisions are made.

Oxfordshire Local Flood Risk Management Strategy

Following the significant floods in 2007, the Government gave local authorities new powers to help manage local flood risk in a more coordinated way.

The Flood Water Management Act 2010 requires county councils to lead the coordination of risk management for surface water, groundwater and smaller watercourses in their area.

Oxfordshire County Council is the lead Local Flood Authority and has a legal duty under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 to “develop, maintain, apply and monitor” a flood risk management strategy. Oxfordshire County Council has now produced a local risk management strategy. This provides a clear vision about how flood risk will be dealt with in Oxfordshire.

The Local Flood Risk Management Strategies consultation has now closed and the final strategy document will be published shortly. The draft local strategy can be downloaded from here.

To enquire about the strategy please E-mail floodmanagement@oxfordshire.gov.uk. Or visit:

• Flood risk management information for flood risk management authorities asset owners and local authorities.
• National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England.

Other real time information available on monitoring local river levels, river flow rates and groundwater levels is available from Shoothill.

History of flooding in Oxfordshire:

A reminder from history: the floods of 1947. This flood was much bigger then any of recent years, but such a flood can, and almost certainly will, come again; there will also be many lesser floods: see the flood risk calculator. Some photos from the summer 2007 floods here. However weeks of heavy rain in the winter of 2014 also brought wide spread floods across Oxfordshire.

Unda’s Local knowledge:

The Unda team have detailed local knowledge of the Oxford area, having carried out many Flood Risk Assessment reports for sites across Oxfordshire. We provide a complete end to end service, negotiating with the Environment Agency, Insurers and Planning Authorities on your behalf.

Find out how we have helped clients across Oxfordshire to better understand the risk of flooding to their private and commercial property. Get in touch with our Flood Risk Assessment team today, by calling +44 (0) 1293 214444.