Andrew Ffrench looks at the implications of an Environment Agency objection to the multi-million pound Oxpens project.

As you drive into Oxford along Oxpens Road you will see evidence of Oxford City Council's success in achieving one of its major developments - the Westgate Centre.

The revamp of the shopping centre was held back over the years by many false starts but eventually went ahead in 2017 and is arguably now one of the city's best assets.

On the other side of Oxpens Road is the ice rink and Oxpens Meadow, and beyond that is empty land which is ripe for development.

That's what the council and Nuffield College - which have joined forces as OXWED - have been planning for years.

The ambitious scheme looks an attractive use of the space, combining new apartments, student rooms, a new hotel and an amphitheatre.

But developers are now facing a setback - the Environment Agency (EA) says the Oxford Sewage Treatment Works is at capacity and therefore it can't give its approval for the scheme.

It is not the only major development in Oxford to be facing this problem - the EA has objected to other projects - but Oxpens is the council's best opportunity for providing new homes - affordable or not - inside the ring road.

(Image: OXWED) A series of meetings are now taking place in the corridors of power to try to put pressure on Thames Water to invest millions of pounds as rapidly as possible in the ageing treatment works.

But the reality is that the water company is experiencing significant financial pressures and may not be able to fund the upgrade straightaway.

Thames Water's timeline does suggest that completion of the improvements will take a few years - which will concern city council leaders, and the leaders of other local authorities, who also fear that new homes in their area may not get built as a result of this alarming issue.

There will, of course, be a paper trail illustrating Environment Agency questions regarding this particular sewage treatment plant which date back years.

Thames Water has been aware of the lack of capacity for some time and should have invested money sooner in a vital upgrade.

We are now faced with the situation where the Environment Agency is saying "enough is enough", and it is quite right to do so.

No one wants to see new homes and offices built, only to be serviced by an inadequate sewerage system.

Local authorities across Oxfordshire need to work together to find a fast solution because years of delay will harm the local economy.

The Oxpens scheme is at the heart of proposed improvements for the whole of the city's West End, and its designers have a vision where the Westgate Centre links seamlessly with the new facilities at Oxpens, and also with a revamped Oxford rail station, and the Osney Mead industrial estate.

At present, we have a Network Rail scheme to improve the station which is on hold, a major route into the city closed indefinitely (Botley Road), and now a question mark over progress with Oxpens.

The West End of Oxford could one day become a glittering jewel in Oxford's crown.

But at the moment that day seems a long way off.

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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. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.