Flood risk across Oxfordshire
The Thames and its tributaries — the Cherwell, the Windrush, the Evenlode and the Ock — meet across Oxfordshire's wide floodplains. In July 2007 the rivers flooded homes in Oxford, Abingdon and Witney, and Oxford flooded again in 2014. The Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme, a new channel west of the city, is being built to reduce the risk.
Flood zones only show river and sea flooding, and they ignore flood defences. Surface water and reservoir risk aren’t part of the zones – check them on the Environment Agency’s long-term flood risk service, or get the full report, which covers every source.
Rivers that shape local flood risk
Main rivers are managed by the Environment Agency. Smaller watercourses and drainage are the responsibility of Oxfordshire County Council and landowners.
River Thames – Oxford, Abingdon, Wallingford and Henley
River Cherwell – Banbury and Oxford
River Windrush – Burford and Witney
River Evenlode – Charlbury and Long Hanborough
River Ock – Wantage and Abingdon
River Thame – Thame and Dorchester-on-Thames
Who manages flood risk here
Oxfordshire County Council is the Lead Local Flood Authority, responsible for surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses. The Environment Agency manages main rivers and the sea, and issues flood warnings. Your district or borough council decides planning applications – and asks for a flood risk assessment in Flood Zones 2 and 3.
Getting a written answer for an address
The free check describes the area around your postcode. For a specific property, the full report checks your exact address against every flood dataset and gives you a dated PDF to share with your surveyor, conveyancer or insurer.
For planning decisions, your local council has the final say.
