A SCHEME which could stop large lowland areas of Oxford from flooding might not be finished until 2025.

The Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme would see a man-made river dug around the west side of the city, with a sloping meadow landscape around it to catch excess water during periods of flooding.

When complete, it is hoped the scheme would prevent areas like Botley Road and Abingdon Road from flooding, as they have done in the past.

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Digging work for the scheme was originally due to begin in 2019, with a £120m price tag attached.

However, an Environment Agency (EA) spokesman, speaking on behalf of the coalition behind the flood prevention plan, said work might now not begin until later this year now, with completion estimated to take three to four years.

A map showing where the new flood alleviation scheme would be built.

A map showing where the new flood alleviation scheme would be built.

The spokesman said: “Once we have all approvals secured, including the planning permission, construction is expected to take three to four years to complete.

“The scheme is expected to cost around £150 million and is fully funded. For every £1 we spend on the scheme, it will realise £10 in benefits in reducing flood risk.”

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The EA withdrew its original planning application for works on the manmade river in 2020, so that it could redesign the scheme to fit around works on a road bridge south of Oxford.

The bridge over the ring road south of Oxford, the A423, needs to be replaced as bearings holding it up have rusted.

In their latest newsletter to Oxford residents, the EA team say they plan to submit a new planning application for the scheme by late 2021.

They have also announced that they have partnered with environmental charity Earth Trust, which will help to make the new manmade stream into a ‘wetland wildlife corridor’ with new habitats that will also link to existing wildlife sites.

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While the preparation work for the new stream continues, the coalition of public bodies behind it has flood defences on standby.

Some of these were tested in August last year, including water pumps on Botley Road, and flood barriers in South Hinksey.

Statt from the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme test a flood barrier

Statt from the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme test a flood barrier

The South Hinksey flood barriers were deployed in December to prevent homes from flooding, alongside others on Osney Island.