Fears 800 homes plan near Oxford will not have enough water

Cherwell district councillors gave the green light for the new homes on land just off Oxford Road in the Kidlington area, east of Pipal Cottage.

The application submitted by Bellway Homes and Oxford's Christ Church College, is close to where Oxford United's new football stadium is planned on land known as The Triangle in Kidlington.

Critics including Kidlington county councillor Ian Middleton, of the Green party, believe the plans for the area would help "destroy the green gap forever".

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Councillors were told last minute at the meeting the Environment Agency (EA) had objected to the application as "the proposed development would pose an unacceptable risk of pollution to surface water quality".

Masterplans. (Image: Cherwell District Council.)

Speaking out after the meeting, Mr Middleton said: "The objection came in about three hours before the planning meeting.

"I don't think members of the meeting really had enough time to properly digest that information.

"I think Thames Water had said they needed a number of pumping stations to be installed.

"I also understand they were saying they don’t really have capacity to provide water to the site.

"There is probably enough for about 50 homes – the plan is for 800."

CGI of the football stadium. (Image: Oxford United)

Mr Middleton has previously raised concerns about a "tsunami of planning applications".

An objector Felicity Staveley-Taylor added: "The green gap will be destroyed forever.

"If the Oxford United Stadium building goes ahead on The Triangle, there will be very significant traffic, parking and noise issues for residents of this development."

The approval for the new homes comes as Oxford United hopes to build a 16,000-capacity stadium next to Oxford Road, allowing it to leave its current home at the Kassam Stadium, where the lease expires in 2026.

Suzanne McIvor, a member of Friends of Stratfield Brake, said: "We are aware of the Environment Agency's eleventh hour objection to these 800 homes due to the risk of pollution.

Ian Middleton. (Image: CDC.)

"As The Triangle, the proposed site for a football stadium, is directly opposite this site, we assume that the Environment Agency will take the same hard line. 

"If Oxford Sewage Treatment Works can't cope with these houses we question how they could cope with a 16,000 capacity stadium, large hotel and other facilities."

A Cherwell District Council spokesman said: "The application was approved subject to conditions including the resolution of the objection by the Environment Agency.

Councillors at the Cherwell planning meeting. (Image: CDC.)

"The Environment Agency’s letter says: 'The applicant will need to liaise with Thames Water, the planning authority and Environment Agency to put plans and timescales in place to ensure improvements at Oxford STW to meet regulatory requirements and are delivered as soon as possible.'

"As stated at the planning committee meeting Cherwell District Council will follow that advice and liaise with Thames Water and the Environment Agency to overcome the objection, in line with the committee resolution."

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About the author

Noor is the Local Democracy Reporter for Oxfordshire who covers political stories from across the county. 

She began working as a journalist in Oxford in September 2023 having graduated from the University of Oxford.

Noor was trained at the News Associates journalism school and can be found on X through the handle @NoorJQurashi