West Oxfordshire tackles sewage issues before any new homes are occupied
Planning conditions ensure infrastructure upgrades are completed first
West Oxfordshire District Council is focusing on addressing long-term sewage infrastructure challenges by ensuring that upgrades are completed before new homes can be occupied.
The Council is using Grampian planning conditions to manage developments in areas where the sewage network is unable to cope with additional demand. These conditions prevent homes from being lived in until essential sewage systems are improved.
Concerns over sewage pollution and capacity issues have led the Council to work closely with Thames Water and national regulators such as Ofwat and the Environment Agency. Thames Water has been consulted on the necessary upgrades for each affected development.
Currently, just under 1,000 homes in West Oxfordshire are either permitted or under construction subject to Grampian conditions. These measures have been introduced to address delays and underinvestment in wastewater infrastructure while ensuring new housing meets the standards expected by local communities.
Cllr Lidia Arciszewska, Executive Member for Environment, said: “Our sewage network is under serious strain. Across West Oxfordshire, we have 20 sewage treatment works, and most of them are already operating beyond capacity, releasing raw sewage from their storm overflow tanks for thousands of hours each year, as well as untreated effluent during dry weather conditions, thus polluting our rivers and streams.
“By introducing Grampian conditions, we’re putting pressure on Thames Water to act to ensure failing systems are invested in. Everyone has a role to play in getting this right, and we’re doing everything we can to lead the way. Our priority is protecting the environment, standing up for our communities, and making sure new housing is delivered to the standard residents rightly expect.”
To help residents and stakeholders, the Council has launched a webpage outlining which developments are affected and how it is addressing infrastructure delivery in the district.
Cllr Hugo Ashton, Executive Member for Planning, added: “Our job is to make sure that new developments happen in a way that genuinely works for residents by ensuring they’re backed by the infrastructure and services people need to thrive.
“These conditions are not about blocking housing, they’re about making sure new homes are liveable, sustainable, and properly connected. The delays we’re seeing are not caused by the Council, but by decades of underinvestment in wastewater infrastructure.”