Banbury Case Study

• Banbury, a historic market town in Oxfordshire, England, faced flooding from the River Cherwell multiple times, with significant damage in 1998 and further flooding in 2007
• In 2012, the Banbury flood management scheme was implemented, involving the construction of a flood storage reservoir north of the town at an investment of £18.5 million
• The key features of the Banbury flood management scheme included raising the A361, constructing a floodwall around motorsport company Prodrive, building new pumping stations, and controlling the flow of the River Cherwell through flow control structures
• Social issues resulting from the scheme include reduced transport disruption for locals, improved quality of life with new green areas and footpaths, and reduced anxiety due to decreased flood risk
• Economic benefits of the scheme include protecting 441 houses and 73 commercial properties from flooding, increased property values, and estimated benefits exceeding £100 million
• Environmental impacts of the scheme involved habitat destruction due to the embankment construction, but also included positive outcomes like planting trees, constructing ponds, and creating new habitats for waterbirds