Environmental campaigners are raising concerns about plans for hundreds of new homes in Oxford because of inadequate sewage treatment facilities.

Campaign groups Windrush Against Sewage Pollution (WASP), Evenlode Catchment Partnership, and Upper Thames Fisheries are challenging Oxford City Council and South Oxfordshire District Council over two proposed housing developments which they say could place too much pressure on the city’s sewerage system.  

This year, the Environment Agency has objected to plans for a number of major housing developments, including the multi-million pound Oxpens scheme, because of a lack of investment in Thames Water's Oxford Sewage Treatment Works.

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WASP, represented by law firm Leigh Day, said the planning applications for the two developments do not adequately address concerns about the impact of increased sewage on Oxford's current sewerage network.

Writing to the councils, the group also argues that the new housing plans contradict local planning policy, which requires there to be sufficient evidence that utilities have the capacity to support each development.

Environmental consultant and WASP volunteer Vaughan Lewis said: "Yet again Thames Water has chosen to put its profits before its responsibility to its customers' health and the environment. Let’s be clear: WASP is not anti-housing, but we are pro-rivers.

"We should not be having to take this step to remind local authorities of their responsibility to protect local rivers, and to firmly reject the contempt that Thames Water has shown towards us all. It is vital that the government supports the principled stand that the Environment Agency has taken. If it fails to do so, it will clearly signal that its loyalty lies with corporate shareholders and not the needs of our environment.” 

A major development located to the north-east of the city at Bayswater Brook is set for approval by South Oxfordshire District Council tomorrow - Wednesday. This would lead to the construction of more than 1,400 homes.  

(Image: Tim Graham) The other development, located near Goose Green Close in north Oxford, features 24 new homes, and was granted planning permission by Oxford City Council’s planning committee last month.

Problems with the sewerage system in Oxford, which is run by Thames Water, have been highlighted by the Environment Agency.

The EA took the unusual step of objecting to Bayswater Brook development because of ‘significant concern’ about the state of Oxford Sewage Treatment Works.

The EA advised in its 2021 inspection that upgrades to the sewerage system would need to be implemented in order to deal with additional sewage flows created by further housing developments.  

While conditions are proposed to be included in the planning permissions for both the Goose Green Close and Bayswater Brook developments setting out that upgrades to the sewage network would be required, WASP argues that these are not adequate.  

(Image: Oxford Mail) WASP claims that the granting of planning permission would be unlawful as the condition included does not do enough to address concerns raised by objectors, including the Environment Agency.

It also says that the plans do not lay out strict enough instructions to avoid over-capacity issues which could lead to sewage pollution. 

Thames Water is now inviting tenders for the £240m scheme to upgrade its Oxford treatment works.

Work will include trebling storm tank capacity, increasing sewage treatment flows by 80 per cent and raising power supplies.

The water company held an online briefing for interested parties on September 10.

However, it is likely to take seven years to deliver the full upgrade.

Thames Water has said that "due to the size and complexity" the initial upgrade is only expected to be completed in 2027 with a full solution not being delivered until 2031.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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