Celebrity developer must pay for sewage works (From The Oxford Times)

Celebrity developer must pay for sewage works

12:00pm Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News By Damian Fantato, covering Summertown, Jericho and North Oxford. Call me on 01865 425429

A DEVELOPMENT company formed by TV presenter Kevin McCloud, right, could be asked to pay towards improving part of Oxford’s network of sewers.

Haboakus is hoping to build more than 100 homes across three sites in Cowley and Northway along with state-of-the-art community facilities.

It is an £18m joint venture between Mr McCloud’s development company Hab and housing association GreenSquare.

But Thames Water has formally objected to the two developments in Northway because it says the sewerage network in the area would not cope.

Spokeswoman Natalie Slater said: “We have asked the developers to fund studies to determine the impact of the development on existing infrastructure, and if this work identifies additional capacity is required the developer may be required to fund this.”

Thames Water has asked Oxford City Council to impose a so-called “Grampian condition” on the development that will mean work cannot start until the sewers have been improved.

Saxon Way resident Georgina Gibbs said: “When I met Kevin McCloud I told him that the drainage system was not up to it. “Here in Northway we have had three feet of sewage flooding because the system cannot cope. We are waiting in dread for another flood.”

The two sites are at Westlands Drive – where 21 one- and two-bedroom flats will be built – and at Dora Carr Close – where there will be 47 homes plus a new community centre for Northway.

Another development is planned for Barns Road, Cowley, where there will be 40 apartments. A planning application for the Haboakus developments has been submitted and will be decided on a date yet to be set.

Haboakus project manager Marita Ford said: “We are aware of the concerns raised by Thames Water and are working with them to address these, having already commissioned a study which has been under way for several months.”