Bicester Town Centre, Oxfordshire
In 2004, Cherwell District Council chose Stockdale Land in partnership with Sainsbury's Supermarkets to help regenerate Bicester Town Centre. Water Environment was appointed to deliver all aspects of flood risk, environmental and engineering consultancy for this complex, multi-year project centred on the diversion of the River Bure.
Client: Stockdale Land & Sainsbury's Supermarkets Limited
Status: Completed in early 2011
Key Personnel: Tony Clothier
Services
Flood Risk Services
- Flood Risk Assessment (FRA)
- Sustainable Drainage Strategy
- Flood Defence (Mitigation) Strategy
- Flood Investigation
- Hydrology & Hydraulic Modelling
- Flood Emergency Plan
- Basement Impact Assessment (BIA)
- Groundwater Flooding
- Expert Witness
Environmental Services
- Nutrient Neutrality
- Flow & Water Quality Monitoring & Sampling
- River Geomorphological Survey & Assessment
- Water Framework Directive (WFD) Assessment
- Water Resources Assessment
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
- Air Quality Assessment (AQA)
- Catchment Management Plans
- Environmental Permits, Licences & Consents
- Expert Witness
Engineering Services
- Sewerage Design
- Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) Design
- Landscape Amenity & Sport Facility Drainage
- Earthworks Design
- River Design
- Roads & Driveways
- Expert Witness
Project details
A fundamental component in Stockdale Land and Sainsbury's successful bid to regenerate Bicester Town Centre was the ambitious concept to divert the canalised River Bure. This was a complex project, spanning a number of years in planning and development. The initial concept design considered diversion of 180 metres of Main River, relocating the channel to the southern side of the public highway. This relocation allowed significantly more room to provide an improved sinuous channel along the historical valley, whilst also providing Sainsbury's with an increased site area.
Water Environment was involved at all stages of the project, from initial concept ideas through to planning and consenting, and finally supervision of construction. We undertook extensive negotiations with the Environment Agency (EA) and Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) to progress the scheme. Hydrological analysis and development of a bespoke hydraulic model of the River Bure was essential to test the impact of the diversion under design flood conditions. This detailed modelling underpinned preparation of the Flood Risk Assessment and the Flood Defence Consent application.
Water Environment completed detailed river diversion designs and obtained all necessary consents and approvals from the EA and OCC. This included securing Flood Defence Consent and formal approval for the scheme to proceed. Our team was also appointed to oversee construction of the river diversion, a role that involved proactive collaboration with the EA's flood risk and biodiversity teams, the main contractor Kier Moss, and engagement with local residents to ensure a smooth transition.
Construction of the River Bure diversion was successfully completed and the waters were redirected to their new alignment. Vegetation established quickly within the new channel, creating valuable new habitat and significantly improving the ecological value of the site. The new channel design offers a reduction in flood risk due to increased conveyance capacity compared to the original canalised section, and has demonstrably improved the outlook and amenity for local residents and members of the public using the town centre.
The Bicester Town Centre project represents a successful collaboration between all parties involved: the local authority, Environment Agency, developer, contractor, landscape architects and engineers. It demonstrates how thoughtful environmental and engineering design can unlock significant development opportunities whilst improving flood resilience and ecological value for the benefit of the community.