A District Council with a local development plan in Oxfordshire. A proposed 1,000-house development needs a flood risk assessment to confirm it will meet sustainability criteria.

The Witney area has been subject to flooding from the River Windrush and from run-off from smaller watercourses and culverts. The local community and regulators are sensitive to flood risk issues.

Time for WHS

WHS needed to undertake a Level 2 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) for the development.

Our assessment included:

• local flooding issues associated with an undersized culvert prone to blockage
• 1D/2D modelling of the Windrush to check the impacts of a proposed road viaduct to serve the development to ensure that flood risk was not made worse elsewhere
• the viability of options to reduce flood risk to the centre of Witney from the Windrush.

We engaged proactively with the Environment Agency and Oxfordshire County Council as Lead Local Flood Authority to ensure buy-in to the methodology for the SFRA.

Result: Quick approval from the flood risk regulators. SFRA report delivered to time and budget with recommended methods to reduce flows from the development site and improve the culvert inlet to reduce current flood risk.

“WHS provided an extremely competent and professional service at a competitive price… was readily available throughout and provided regular progress updates… actively engaged with relevant stakeholders and was always responsive to comments and amendments. The project was completed on time and to a high standard. Highly recommended.”
Planning Policy Manager, West Oxfordshire District Council