We have made our Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme. A CPO is a legal process that allows land, property and rights of access to be obtained from a landowner when there is a compelling case that the land is needed in the public interest and can only be applied for where land or access is vital for a scheme to function. It is normal practice when planning a scheme of this scale to run a CPO to ensure all land essential to the working of the scheme is acquired.
If you have not been contacted by us regarding ownership or access to land but you think you should have, please email us. More information on the CPO process and compensation can be found on the CPO system page.
We have provided the Statement of Reasons and accompanying maps and documents for the CPO for you below:
The CPO Schedule document sets out the order in terms of its purpose and the land plots to which the order will apply. Schedule 1 sets out the land plots which we intend to purchase (except exchange land* or additional land and new rights).
Schedule 2 sets out land plots where the exchange land* and additional land to be purchased and vested.
*Exchange land refers to land that we intend to purchase as open space land for public access to replace the open space land which is required for the scheme.
The locations of the land plots referred to in the CPO schedule are indicated on the CPO maps. To use this map, please note the scheme area is divided into 16 sheets. Please look at the last page to determine which sheet to use to locate a land plot.
This document sets out our justification for using our powers to make the CPO in order to acquire land, and rights over land, for the purposes of constructing and operating the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme.
The Environmental Statement is a useful reference whilst reading the CPO documents. It can be found on the Oxfordshire County Council ePlanning system, planning reference: MW.0027/22.
The planning application for the scheme has been submitted to Oxfordshire County Council as the local planning authority. The council consulted on the planning application from 7 April to 9 May 2022 and subsequently submitted a Regulation 25 request for further information about the application. The response to this has been submitted and the council will hold a consultation on our response in due course. All the information submitted to the council is available to read on the Oxfordshire County Council ePlanning system, planning reference: MW.0027/22.
Please click on each item below for more detail.
You can read our e-newsletter to find out the latest updates for our scheme. Email us at Oxfordscheme@environment-agency.gov.uk to request to be added to our mailing list to receive our e-newsletter directly in the future.
Subject to all approvals, we currently anticipate construction to begin in 2024. We then expect construction to take up to 5 years. The A423 Kennington bridge in the southern end of the scheme area needs to be replaced by Oxfordshire County Council due to deterioration. The bridge is crucial to the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme as floodwater from the scheme needs to pass underneath the bridge to rejoin the River Thames. So, we also need to coordinate our construction with the replacement of the A423 Kennington bridge.
Construction would then start from the north and we anticipate it will take 3 years to complete the areas north of Old Abingdon Road. We can begin building the southern part of the scheme once Oxfordshire County Council have completed the replacement A423 Kennington Railway Bridge. For more information on the A423 bridge, please refer to the Oxfordshire County Council website.
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