Flood risk assessments for planning across Oxfordshire – the Thames, Cherwell, Windrush and Evenlode corridors and the Cotswold headwaters.
Oxfordshire sits at the headwaters of the Thames and its main tributaries. Oxford itself is exceptionally flood-prone, 1.7% of homes in the city have been affected by flooding, a higher proportion than most other English cities. The Botley Road flooding, the Osney island flooding and the regular inundation of Port Meadow are not peripheral planning concerns. They directly affect some of Oxford’s most active development areas. The Wolvercote, New Botley, Osney, Grandpont and New Hinksey neighbourhoods all have documented Flood Zone 2 or 3 risk from the Thames floodplain.
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse published a joint Level 1 SFRA in 2024, applying updated climate change allowances for the Cotswolds and Thames management catchments. West Oxfordshire published its Level 1 SFRA using the latest NaFRA2 data. Oxfordshire County Council acts as LLFA across the whole county. OCC’s SuDS design guide sets the drainage standards that apply to planning applications across all five districts. For Cotswold-fringe sites in West Oxfordshire, the 35 per cent and 70 per cent climate change uplifts for the Thames and Windrush apply for standard development lifetimes, significant figures that directly affect finished floor level calculations.
“A Flood Risk Assessment should be an engineering exercise, not a template report. At FPS Environmental every assessment is bespoke, focused on assessing flood risk thoroughly and supporting viable development.”
Simon Crowther BEng (Hons) FCIWEM C.WEM MIET
Director, FPS Environmental
The River Thames enters Oxfordshire from Gloucestershire at Lechlade, flowing through Witney, Oxford, Abingdon, Wallingford and Henley-on-Thames to Reading at the Berkshire boundary. Significant Flood Zone 2 and 3 areas exist along the entire Thames corridor through the county, with some of the most complex flood risk planning environments in Oxford City, Abingdon, Wallingford and Henley. The River Cherwell flows through Banbury, Kidlington and into Oxford from the north, creating fluvial risk in the Summertown, New Marston and Wolvercote areas where it meets the Thames. The Banbury Flood Alleviation Scheme provides some protection along the Cherwell in Banbury, but defended areas still require FRAs addressing residual risk.
The Cotswold tributaries, the Windrush through Witney, the Evenlode through Charlbury and Woodstock, the Glyme through Chipping Norton, the Leach through Burford, all drain the limestone plateau of the Cotswolds and are prone to rapid response during intense rainfall. West Oxfordshire District has a particular planning challenge: many of its most attractive development locations in Cotswold market towns sit in or near the floodplains of these tributaries. The West Oxfordshire SFRA sets out the requirements for each catchment, and FRAs for Cotswold fringe development must engage with the Windrush and Evenlode model data directly.
Groundwater flooding from the Jurassic limestone and oolitic limestone geology of the Cotswolds is a material planning consideration across West Oxfordshire and parts of Cherwell. Spring lines and groundwater emergence affect development at Chipping Norton, Burford, Charlbury, Witney and the surrounding villages during prolonged wet periods. FRAs for affected sites must assess groundwater risk alongside fluvial and surface water sources.
• Development in Flood Zone 2 or 3 along the Thames, Cherwell, Windrush, Evenlode, Glyme or any tributary
• Development in Banbury where the Cherwell FAS defended area requires residual and breach risk analysis
• Development in Oxford City where the Thames and Cherwell floodplains affect Wolvercote, New Botley, Osney and Grandpont
• Development where groundwater flooding from Cotswold limestone geology is a planning consideration
• Development of 1 hectare or more in Flood Zone 1
• Development requiring a surface water drainage strategy under Oxfordshire County Council SuDS guidance
We are familiar with the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse Level 1 SFRA 2024, the West Oxfordshire SFRA and Oxford City Council’s SFRA evidence. We understand the Thames and Cotswold tributary catchment characteristics, the climate change uplift requirements for the relevant management catchments and the groundwater flood risk from the limestone geology.
Our FRAs engage with EA Thames, Cherwell and Windrush model data and apply the correct climate change uplifts for each catchment. We cover all five Oxfordshire districts: Oxford City, Cherwell, West Oxfordshire, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse.
We also provide sub-page level coverage for the Cotswolds specifically – see our Cotswolds flood risk assessment page for development in the AONB and its fringe settlements.
Years combined civil & environmental engineering experience
Years delivering drainage, design and risk advisory
Projects including individual assets valued at £1 billion+
Drainage design and flood risk commissions delivered
Here are some of our latest testimonials from satisfied clients. If you’d like to discuss your requirements further, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
We are a charity owning a large parcel of land where gathering water is then affecting neighbouring properties. Received expert flood risk and drainage advice from FPS Environmental Ltd. All dealings with them were timely and professional. Site visit arranged where we were able to fully discuss causes and solutions. Great peace of mind obtained from engaging their expertise.
Michael Rowell
Landowner
The report I received was for a Flood Survey which was very thorough and clearly a lot of work had gone into it. The team were always available and conscious of deadlines. I would definitely recommend them if you are looking to get a flood survey completed.
Mike Gray
We spent thousands of pounds on poor quality investigations before reaching out to FPS Environmental. Most surveyors over promised and underdelivered creating tremendous stress for me and my family. FPSE has been absolutely amazing from the very beginning. They treated us with respect and restored our faith in this industry. We are incredibly grateful to them and highly recommend the company to anybody who wants to get a top product and piece of mind.
George Albota
I have used FPS, Simon and his team on several occasions over the last few years to advise on the flood risk and mitigating factors on both houses and prospective businesses. They have deep expertise and contacts across the spectrum of flood management. In particular, I have found their assessment reports invaluable. Whilst they are understandably busy, they are good to deal with and I would have no hesitation recommending them to anyone who is looking for advice in the sector.
Richard Warburton
Business Owner
FPS was really helpful in providing consulting advice in connection with a residential property acquisition. Sebastian from FPS undertook the survey and followed up with a full report and a consultation call to run through everything. The basic desktop data suggested a high flood risk, but this property-specific survey allowed us to take a well-informed position following Sebastian’s advice. Great work – and he and the FPS team were really helpful throughout the process. I’d certainly recommend them.
Richard Brandon
Very impressed with FPS Environmental Ltd and the guidance we have received to date. We had an hour long online consultation with the principal surveyor, and it was extremely helpful and productive. Thank you FPS. Will use the company again and highly recommend.
Helen Sutherland
FPS were able to work to our schedule and fit in an appointment at short notice. There was great communication from the office staff keeping us informed of any changes or requirements before the site visit.
The site survey was very thorough and Simon very knowledgeable, and quite happy to answer all questions. The provided report was extensive with usable information and recommendations. I will use FPS in the future and happily recommend them to all of my clients.
Drew Kirkland-Crawford
Deadwood Services Ltd
Send us your project brief and we will come back with a scope and indicative fee. Where additional input is required, this is provided on a formal instruction basis.
Certificate No: 420112023
© Copyright 2026 FPS Environmental. All rights reserved.
