Navigating your way around the OFAS planning documents can seem daunting. This is a very large and complex project. You’ll find the documents at the County Planning Portal – https://myeplanning.oxfordshire.gov.uk/Disclaimer?returnUrl=%2F. You have to click ‘accept’ on this page before searching for the OFAS application. The application reference number is MW.0027/22. Click on the ‘documents’ tab for the application to view the planning documents.

If you toggle the ‘date’ filter you should get all of the most recently material appearing at the top. The document ‘Regulation 25 Further Information Request – schedule of changes’ details what has changed since the original application was submitted last year. There is also a summary of changes in the Addendum to the Planning Statement.

Most areas of the plan documents are unchanged, but there have been revisions to the way biodiversity loss/gain is calculated and how this is compensated for. The biodiversity analysis has been updated using the latest DEFRA methodology. Revised scorings based on this new methodology have led to some changes in scheme approach, including necessitating some off-site mitigation of specific types of habitat loss.

Overall the plan continues to demonstrate what will soon be the legally required level of biodiversity gain. The new Planning Statement Addendum says:

The calculation shows a net gain of 11.24% habitats, 11.66% hedgerows and 15.22% rivers with off-site mitigation. For some categories of habitats such as hedgerows and wet woodlands we are providing some replacement habitat on site but will also need to provide some offsite. We are replacing as much as possible on site but we cannot replace like for like habitat in the lowered area of the floodplain.

Other changes/additions to the planning documents are:

• An updated Agricultural Holdings impact assessment

• An updated Environmental Action Plan to address queries

• Updated information on Air Quality

• Updated landscape and planting plans

• A minor update to the No-channel Modelling Report

• Inclusion of the Carbon Calculator detailing the calculations used to estimate the carbon emissions figures quoted in the ES

• Additional Information on the options assessed for the proposed 2 stage channel route alignment

• An updated Landscape and Habitat Creation – Delivery and Management Plan.

You can search the planning site for documents relevant to topics you may be interested in. Oxford Flood Alliance supports the scheme as proposed by the Environment Agency. We are members of the Sponsoring Group for the scheme.