Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme

The Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme is an Environment Agency-led, nature-based flood-resilience project running for about five kilometres through the floodplain west of Oxford.[1]

Current position

The full business case has been approved and GRAHAM has been appointed as construction partner. Construction is expected to take up to five years.

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Benefits

The scheme is designed to reduce River Thames flood risk to homes, businesses, the railway, roads and utilities while creating more than 20 hectares of wetland habitat and around 16 hectares of floodplain meadow.
The Environment Agency estimates that the scheme will avoid more than £1.8 billion of flood damage and disruption over its lifetime.

Latest developments

Urban Development & Housing · 15 September 2026

Oxford appoints delivery partner for £220 million flood scheme

The Environment Agency has approved the scheme's full business case and appointed GRAHAM as construction partner. The five-kilometre project will create a new stream and wetland corridor west of Oxford, reduce flood risk to homes, businesses and transport links, and is expected to take up to five years to build.

Sources