Oxford City Council – supported by funding from OxLEP – has completed flood prevention work in Northway and Marston, protecting 110 homes from surface water flash flooding.
           
The City Council started work on the £2.2m Northway and Marston Flood Alleviation Scheme in November 2016.
 
Work has now been completed on the temporary flood water storage areas, channel realignment and natural embankments.
 
It means that the 110 homes are now at a reduced risk from surface water flash flooding.
 
Northway and Marston have been hit by flash flooding in the past due to their close proximity to Peasmoor Brook and the Headington Hill Tributary.
 
It can take as little as half an hour of torrential rain to cause flooding of homes in the areas.
 
In the event of a torrential rain, water will now be channelled into the three temporary flood water storage areas, and then released into the drainage system and waterways at a pace they can cope with.
 
Oxford City Council successfully won funding from grants administered by the Environment Agency (£1.6m) and OxLEP (£600,000) to make the project happen.
 
Protective fencing at Northway Community Field and Court Place Farm Recreation Ground will remain in place until the end of August to allow new grass seeds and wildflower seeds to establish.
 
Trees and shrubs will then be planted across both sites during the autumn planting season.
 
The new FA-compliant and full-size football pitch in Northway Community Field will open in January 2018.
 
Nigel Tipple - Chief Executive of OxLEP - said: “We are delighted the flood alleviation project at Northway and Marston is now complete, which will have a positive impact on over 100 homes in this part of Oxford.

“Locally, this investment is significant and – across the rest of Oxfordshire – OxLEP is committed to funding projects that mitigate against flood risks, potentially affecting businesses and homes in the county. This includes the sizeable allocation of £25.85m-worth of funding towards the Oxfordshire Flood Risk Management Scheme.”
 
Councillor John Tanner - Executive Board Member for a Clean and Green Oxford - added: “I am delighted that this important project has now been completed.
 
“We know just how horrendous it is having your home under water and now it is much less likely that homes in Northway and Marston will suffer from flash flooding."