OXFORD'S historical and "sensitive" landscape is hampering the search for solutions to prevent future flooding.

A report released by the Environment Agency painted a bleak picture for the city, with experts predicting the onset of climate change would put those living here at an even greater risk of flooding.

It suggested the city would suffer because of its heritage and complicated architecture could get in the way of building flood defences.

The report - a review of the summer's crisis - said there was a "sound business case" for a flood defence strategy in Oxford.

But a catalogue of complications almost certainly meant a public inquiry and a lengthy wait for progress on the ground.

Construction of a major flood defence scheme of any description is unlikely to start before 2015 - with cost a hefty stumbling block.

Oxford needs "significant" investment, but the Environment Agency said the city would get a lot wetter before defences were in place.

The cost of a "strategic defence scheme" has been put at £150m, but Oxford is not considered a top priority.

Geoff Bell, the Environment Agency's area flood risk manager, said: "Let's be realistic, some poor people have been flooded three times in seven years - if nothing is going to be built for seven years that's another three occasions.

"Money is secondary, the overall solution for Oxford is a mammoth project. It's very complicated because more than one community is affected by floods and what we can't do is a quick fix.

"With climate change, extreme events are going to increase.

"We are doing everything to see what solutions there might be for parts of Oxford but there is never going to be enough money to go round."

July's flooding - which followed the wettest May to July since 1766 - caused chaos in Oxford and beyond with hundreds of houses damaged and scores evacuated in the city, Abingdon and Witney.

Since the flooding, Oxfordshire has received short shrift from the Government and council leaders were told recently Whitehall would not reimburse the cost of the summer emergency operation, estimated to have left the authorities £3.3m out of pocket.

And years of limited progress by the Environment Agency and councils has forced homeowners to purchase their own flood defence equipment.

The report intimates cities like Sheffield, Leeds and Hull and parts of Gloucestershire and Lincolnshire are considered as, if not more, important than Oxford.

And because of a lack of cash it seems likely taxpayers would have to put their hands in their pockets to speed up the process.

Part of the report said: "The potential for climate change to cause more severe storms and heavier rains could raise flood levels and put homes and business in the city at a greater risk of flooding.

"Developing a flood risk management solution for Oxford will not be easy.

"The area is very environmentally sensitive in terms of its ecological, archaeological, heritage and landscape value.

"The scale of investment needed would represent a major proportion of the flood risk management capital budget - and commitment from partners in Oxford would also be required."