Sir — Discussion at Waitrose’s recent public consultation about their proposed new store in Botley Road focused mainly on its appearance. No one, it seems, is talking about the opportunity the development provides to reduce flood risk. Once the existing building has been demolished, the whole site should be lowered and returned to floodplain. The new store should then be built on pillars, or stilts, thereby having practically no footprint.

The area beneath the store could be used for parking. A brief Internet search reveals that precedents have already been set; Tesco has built several town-centre stores on stilts to provide parking space beneath, and Grant Thornton’s office building, just up the road, is raised above its own car park.

Even more relevant are a brand-new Tesco store on stilts in a floodplain in Galston, Ayrshire, and numerous references to the practice, including those by the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Welcome and innovative measures were taken in 2011 by developers Kingerlee, in conjunction with ourselves and the local authorities, in their Lamarsh Road retail development.

A new route was created for flood water to move on down the floodplain instead of being channelled down Earl Street, inundating every house in the street and several in Duke Street. West Oxford has suffered much in the past from stores and houses being built on ground raised above the floodplain, displacing water to adjacent lower ground and into homes and gardens. Waitrose and city planners now have a golden opportunity to build a flagship store that would make a positive difference and help the local community. We urge them to seriously consider the possibilities.

Nick Hills, Oxford Flood Alliance Steering Group, Oxford