DOCSLIB.ORG

Flood Risk Assessment in Support of Commercial Development At

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Flood Risk Assessment in Support of Commercial Development At Flood Risk Assessment In support of Commercial Development at 40 St Thomas Street, Oxford OX1 1JL Jamie Finch FCIHT 3rd March 2021 Revision [0] Flood Risk Assessment at 40 St Thomas Street, Oxford Contents Amendments ........................................................................................................................................... 2 References .............................................................................................................................................. 2 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 3 Development Description and Location .................................................................................................. 3 Development Classification ..................................................................................................................... 3 Sequential Test ........................................................................................................................................ 3 Definition of the Flood Hazard ................................................................................................................ 6 Probability ............................................................................................................................................. 10 Climate Change ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Detailed Development Proposals .......................................................................................................... 10 Flood Risk Management Measures ....................................................................................................... 11 Off Site Impacts ..................................................................................................................................... 11 Residual Risks ........................................................................................................................................ 12 Flood Risk Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 12 Appendices ............................................................................................................................................ 14 1 Flood Risk Assessment at 40 St Thomas Street, Oxford Amendments Revision Date Description 0 03/03/2021 First Issue References Reference Title A CIRIA Publication 753 – The SUDS Manual (2015) B Sewers for Adoption 7th Edition (Wrc 2012) C Part H of the Building Regulations (2015) D Technical Guidance to the NPPF (2012) E Planning Practice Guidance (2018) 2 Flood Risk Assessment at 40 St Thomas Street, Oxford Introduction This Flood Risk Assessment has been developed in support of a new planning application for the construction of a new replacement Commercial Building located at 40 St Thomas Street, Oxford, OX1 1JL. This document aims to identify any flood risk areas, offering suggested mitigation where appropriate. A Location Plan and layout of the proposed scheme and be found in the appendices of this document. The site currently operates as a Pre-School, which will be demolished and replaced with a new building as part of the proposals. The area of development is under 1 Hectare, however part of the site is shown to be situated within Environment Agency Flood Zone 2. Therefore, the site is subject to a formal Flood Risk Assessment (FRA), which is to be submitted and approved by the Local Planning Authority in consultation with the Statutory Consultees. Development Description and Location The development proposal is for the construction of a new commercial building with associated parking. This proposed site is located within the City of Oxford. The site external levels are currently set at around 57.41mAOD. The location of this proposed application site is shown in the location plans in the appendices. Development Classification The flood risk vulnerability classification for this type of development in this location is considered as Less Vulnerable which is defined in Table 2 of the Technical Guidance to the National Planning Policy Framework. Sequential Test As set out in the National Planning Policy Framework, the aim of the Sequential Test is to direct new development to areas with the lowest probability of flooding. 3 Flood Risk Assessment at 40 St Thomas Street, Oxford The starting point to the Sequential Test is the Flood Zones, which can be seen below and also in the appendices. The map clearly shows Zones 2 and 3, whereas Zone 1 is the remainder of the land not hatched. This confirms that the site is situated marginally within flood zone 2. These flood zones refer to the probability of river and coastal flooding, ignoring the presence of any existing flood defences. The Strategic Flood Risk Assessment for Oxford District Council refines the information on the probability of flooding and also takes into account other sources of flooding which have been assessed in more detail further in this flood risk assessment. This proposed development is classified as Less Vulnerable in accordance with Table 2 of the Technical Guidance to the National Planning Policy Framework. 4 Flood Risk Assessment at 40 St Thomas Street, Oxford Following an assessment of Table 3 of the Technical Guidance to the National Planning Policy Framework, it states that development in this situation with a site classified as Less Vulnerable and in Flood Zone 2 and 3, this proposal is classed as Appropriate Development: If the application of the Sequential Test is not possible to comply with, a site-specific flood risk assessment must demonstrate that the development will be safe for its lifetime taking account of the vulnerability of its users, without increasing flood risk elsewhere, and, where possible, will reduce flood risk overall. 5 Flood Risk Assessment at 40 St Thomas Street, Oxford Definition of the Flood Hazard For the preparation of this Flood Risk Assessment it is necessary to consider all of the potential sources of flooding and how this may affect the site. A checklist has been provided below to help identify these areas which can be discussed in greater detail in this section. Possible Source of Flooding Applicable to this Site? Fluvial Flooding from nearby rivers or streams Coastal Flooding Surface Water Runoff from the Site, Adjacent or Nearby Land Flooding from Surface Water Sewers Flooding from Foul Water Sewers Flooding from Reservoirs Flooding from Groundwater Flooding from other Sources Flood mapping confirms there is a marginal flood risk to the proposed site, as it is situated just within Flood Zone 2. Full details and mapping are provided in the appendices in the EA Product 4 information and the SFRA mapping. The Product 4 information confirms that the site sits within an area that has been modelled and provides information for the 1% AEP + 35% Climate Change is 57.29mAOD and the 0.1% AEP predicted flood level is 57.31mAOD. The existing external ground levels surrounding the existing building are at about 57.41mAOD at the proposed site. Finished floor levels in any case should be a minimum 150mm above external levels, therefore It is proposed that the internal levels of the new building are set at 57.56mAOD. The risk of coastal flooding can be ignored in this case, as the tidally influenced waters cease at Teddington, London and there are no other coastal waters that would be a risk to the proposed development. 6 Flood Risk Assessment at 40 St Thomas Street, Oxford When checking the flood maps for surface water flooding, there are no risks to the application site. This can be seen below and in the appendices. There are no expected issues of surface water or foul water drainage flooding at the application site. Although there are public surface and foul water sewers in the vicinity of the site, the existing and proposed development are well above the level of the highway, therefore any potential surcharge incidents in the public sewer network would not affect the new building. 7 Flood Risk Assessment at 40 St Thomas Street, Oxford The flood maps have been checked against the risk of reservoir flooding and there is a risk shown in the Environment Agency maps, although the spread of water in this instance seems to be more sporadic than constant. If in the unlikely event there was a reservoir failure, the risk of inundation to the proposed building is very unlikely. The flood risk map can be seen below and also in the appendices. 8 Flood Risk Assessment at 40 St Thomas Street, Oxford The application site lies upon a bedrock geology comprising of the Oxford Clay Formation, overlain by Alluvium, locally known as the Northmoor Sand and Gravel Member. In areas rich in alluvium, water can pass through this sandy gravel and rise quickly, flooding low lying land, however as the proposed building will sit comfortably above the level of the road and surrounding land, groundwater flooding is not considered an issue. There are no other sources on or off site that are thought to be a flood risk at this site. 9 Flood Risk Assessment at 40 St Thomas Street, Oxford Probability The proposed development is situated marginally within Zone 2 which can be seen in the Flood Map for Planning, contained in the appendices. The District Council for this area have prepared a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment which refines the
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A CRITICAL EVALUATION of the LOWER-MIDDLE PALAEOLITHIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORD of the CHALK UPLANDS of NORTHWEST EUROPE Lesley
    A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF THE LOWER-MIDDLE PALAEOLITHIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORD OF THE CHALK UPLANDS OF NORTHWEST EUROPE The Chilterns, Pegsdon, Bedfordshire (photograph L. Blundell) Lesley Blundell UCL Thesis submitted for the degree of PhD September 2019 2 I, Lesley Blundell, confirm that the work presented in this thesis is my own. Where information has been derived from other sources, I confirm that this has been indicated in the thesis. Signed: 3 4 Abstract Our understanding of early human behaviour has always been and continues to be predicated on an archaeological record unevenly distributed in space and time. More than 80% of British Lower-Middle Palaeolithic findspots were discovered during the late 19th/early 20th centuries, the majority from lowland fluvial contexts. Within the British planning process and some academic research, the resultant findspot distributions are taken at face value, with insufficient consideration of possible bias resulting from variables operating on their creation. This leads to areas of landscape outside the river valleys being considered to have only limited archaeological potential. This thesis was conceived as an attempt to analyse the findspot data of the Lower-Middle Palaeolithic record of the Chalk uplands of southeast Britain and northern France within a framework complex enough to allow bias in the formation of findspot distribution patterns and artefact preservation/discovery opportunities to be identified and scrutinised more closely. Taking a dynamic, landscape = record approach, this research explores the potential influence of geomorphology, 19th/early 20th century industrialisation and antiquarian collecting on the creation of the Lower- Middle Palaeolithic record through the opportunities created for artefact preservation and release.
    [Show full text]
  • ASSESSMENT of GROUNDWATER and SURFACE WATER FLOOD RISK in CUMNOR PARISH for CUMNOR PARISH COUNCIL
    Upton House Market Street Charlbury Oxfordshire, OX7 3PJ United Kingdom tel +44 (0)1608 810374 fax +44 (0)1608 810093 e-mail [email protected] www.gwp.uk.com ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER AND SURFACE WATER FLOOD RISK IN CUMNOR PARISH For CUMNOR PARISH COUNCIL February 2019 GWP Consultants LLP Registered No. OC326183 Registered Office: Upton House, Market Street, Charlbury, Oxfordshire, OX7 3PJ, UK Report Title: Assessment of groundwater and surface water flood risk in Cumnor Parish Client: Cumnor Parish Council Job: CUMFRA Report Number: 181017 Version: v.02 Issue Status: Final Issue Date: 22/02/19 Prepared by: Marc Girona-Mata Signature: Approved by: Clive Carpenter Date: 22/02/19 Issue History: Issue Issue Description Prepared Checked Approved No. Date v.01 04/12/18 Draft for Client Approval MGM CC/DN CC v.02 22/02/19 Minor Amendments made, Report MGM CC/DN CC issued to Client This document is based on GWP report template v1.04 and Normal template v3.09 03/01/18 This report has been prepared by GWP Consultants LLP (GWP) on the specific instructions of our Client. It is solely for our Client’s use for the purpose for which it is intended in accordance with the agreed scope of work. Any use or reliance by any person contrary to the above, to which GWP has not given its prior written consent, is at that person’s own risk and may be an infringement of GWP’s copyright. Furthermore the report is issued on the understanding that GWP’s general terms and conditions of engagement are accepted, copies of which are available on request.
    [Show full text]
  • Churchill Retirement Living Limited Land at the Pippin
    CHURCHILL RETIREMENT LIVING LIMITED LAND AT THE PIPPIN, CALNE, SN11 8JQ SITE INVESTIGATION REPORT The Granary White Hall Farm Long Itchington Warwickshire CV47 9PU November 2017 Tel: 01926 815678 Report No. CCL03036.CF46 Fax: 01926 815222 [email protected] www.crossfield-consulting.co.uk CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 2. THE SITE 3. PUBLISHED GEOLOGY 4. DESK STUDY ENQUIRIES 5. GROUND CONDITIONS AND GEOLOGICAL MODEL 6. PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 7. ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL CONTAMINATION AND GROUND GASES 8. ASSESSMENT OF MINING, QUARRYING AND OVERALL GROUND STABILITY 9. FOUNDATION RECOMMENDATIONS 10. TEMPORARY WORKS 11. ASSESSMENT OF SOAKAWAY DRAINAGE 12. ROAD PAVEMENTS 13. ASSESSMENT OF MATERIALS FOR WASTE DISPOSAL 14. RECOMMENDED SUPERVISION AND MONITORING 15. SUMMARY REFERENCES GENERAL NOTES TABLE 1 - Conceptual Site Model TABLE 2 - Summary of Analytical Test Data: Soils – Potential Risks to Human Health TABLE 3 - Assessment of Pollutant Linkages FIGURE 1 - Site Location Plan FIGURE 2 - Site Plan FIGURE 3 - Proposed Development Plan APPENDIX I - Extracts of Historical Maps APPENDIX II - Desk Study Information APPENDIX III - Previous Ground Investigation APPENDIX IV - Ground Investigation APPENDIX V - Quantitative Risk Assessment: Human Health APPENDIX VI - Basis of Geotechnical Assessment for foundations The Pippin, Calne CCL03036.CF46 November 2017 1. INTRODUCTION Churchill Retirement Living Limited proposes to redevelop the area of an existing shop and associated car parking areas at 83 The Pippin, Calne, with a block of residential apartments. Occupants of the apartments will be of retirement age. At the time of the ground investigation works, the site was occupied by a working shop and surrounding car parking areas. The proposed development comprises a three- to four- storey split level residential building, for approximately 35 apartments, together with associated car parking and soft landscaped areas.
    [Show full text]
  • Shrivenham Neighbourhood Development Plan
    Shrivenham Neighbourhood Development Plan Landscape Character Assessment April 2018 Shrivenham Neighbourhood Development Plan Landscape Character Assessment LC-351 Document Control Box Client Shrivenham Neighbourhood Development Plan Steering Group Report title Shrivenham NDP Landscape Character Assessment Status Final Filename LC-351_Shrivenham_LCA_4_040418WE.docx Date April 2018 William Ewart BSc (Hons) and Prepared by Neil Davidson BSc (Hons) MSc CEnv CIEEM CMLI Front cover: View towards North Wessex Downs AONB by William Ewart Shrivenham NDP Landscape Character Assessment April 2018 LC-351_Shrivenham_LCA_4_040418WE.docx Contents 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 3 1.1 Appointment and scope of work .......................................................................................... 3 1.2 Aims of the NDP .................................................................................................................. 3 1.3 Geographic context of Shrivenham ...................................................................................... 3 1.4 National landscape context .................................................................................................. 6 1.5 25 Year Environment Plan .................................................................................................... 8 1.6 County Landscape Context .................................................................................................. 9 1.7 District
    [Show full text]
  • App004552018
    Edinburgh Research Explorer Filling the Corallian gap: new information on Late Jurassic marine reptile faunas from England Citation for published version: Foffa, D, Young, M & Brusatte, S 2018, 'Filling the Corallian gap: new information on Late Jurassic marine reptile faunas from England', Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, vol. 63, no. 2, pp. 287-313. https://doi.org/10.4202/app.00455.2018 Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.4202/app.00455.2018 Link: Link to publication record in Edinburgh Research Explorer Document Version: Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Published In: Acta Palaeontologica Polonica General rights Copyright for the publications made accessible via the Edinburgh Research Explorer is retained by the author(s) and / or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing these publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Take down policy The University of Edinburgh has made every reasonable effort to ensure that Edinburgh Research Explorer content complies with UK legislation. If you believe that the public display of this file breaches copyright please contact [email protected] providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 06. Oct. 2021 Filling the Corallian gap: New information on Late Jurassic marine reptile faunas from England DAVIDE FOFFA, MARK T. YOUNG, and STEPHEN L. BRUSATTE Foffa, D., Young, M.T., and Brusatte, S.L. 2018. Filling the Corallian gap: New information on Late Jurassic marine reptile faunas from England. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 63 (2): 287–313. Two of the best known Mesozoic marine reptile assemblages can be found in units deposited in the Jurassic Sub- Boreal Seaway of the UK: the late Middle Jurassic Oxford Clay Formation (OCF) and Late Jurassic Kimmeridge Clay Formation (KCF).
    [Show full text]
  • Filling the Corallian Gap: New Information on Late Jurassic Marine Reptile Faunas from England
    Filling the Corallian gap: New information on Late Jurassic marine reptile faunas from England DAVIDE FOFFA, MARK T. YOUNG, and STEPHEN L. BRUSATTE Foffa, D., Young, M.T., and Brusatte, S.L. 2018. Filling the Corallian gap: New information on Late Jurassic marine reptile faunas from England. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 63 (2): 287–313. Two of the best known Mesozoic marine reptile assemblages can be found in units deposited in the Jurassic Sub- Boreal Seaway of the UK: the late Middle Jurassic Oxford Clay Formation (OCF) and Late Jurassic Kimmeridge Clay Formation (KCF). They record two very differently structured faunas, but understanding the turnover between them is hampered by a gap in the fossil record that spans much of the Oxfordian, the so-called “Corallian gap”. We provide a comprehensive review of specimens from the Corallian Group (CG) of the UK, which includes the first descriptions of several fossils, particularly teeth. We demonstrate that there is a severe reduction in observed marine reptile diversity during the Oxfordian, with several Callovian taxa well known from the OCF not persisting into the Corallian strata, including small-to-mid-sized pliosaurids and longirostrine teleosaurids. We do, however, find evidence that at least one member of each key OCF lineage (plesiosauroids, pliosaurids, ichthyosaurs, and thalattosuchians) survived into the Corallian interval, and that one keystone KCF lineage (the Torvoneustes line of metriorhynchid thalattosuchians) was present during this time, indicating an earlier radiation of this group than previously thought. We suggest that faunal turnover between the OCF and KCF may have been driven by environmental perturbations during the Oxfordian, which selectively removed small bodied pliosaurids and longirostrine teleosaurids from the Jurassic Sub-Boreal Seaway, but less affected metriorhynchids, plesiosauroids, and ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaurs.
    [Show full text]
  • Drainage Strategy in Support of Commercial Development At
    Drainage Strategy In support of Commercial Development at 40 St. Thomas Street OXFORD OX1 1JP Tony Lee March 2021 Revision [0] Drainage Strategy 40 St. Thomas Street Contents Amendments ........................................................................................................................................... 2 References .............................................................................................................................................. 2 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 3 Existing Drainage ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Site Geology ............................................................................................................................................ 4 Ground Water ......................................................................................................................................... 4 Topography ............................................................................................................................................. 4 Design Objective ...................................................................................................................................... 4 Development Drainage Proposals ........................................................................................................... 5 Surface
    [Show full text]
  • Directory of Mines and Quarries 2020
    Directory of Mines and Quarries 2020 British Geological Survey Directory of Mines and Quarries, 2020 Eleventh Edition Compiled by D G Cameron, E J Evans, N Idoine, J Mankelow, S F Parry, M A G Patton and A Hill With contributions by T C Pharaoh and J Ford Keywords Mines, Quarries, Minerals, Britain, Database, Wharfs, Rail Depots, Oilwells, Gaswells. Front cover Bonawe Quarry, Loch Etive, nr Oban, Argyllshire. Breedon Northern. © Breedon Northern ISBN 978-0-85272-789-8 Bibliographical references Cameron, D G, Evans, E J, Idoine, N, Mankelow, J, Parry, S F, Patton, M A G, and A Hill. 2020. Directory of Mines and Quarries, 2020: 11th Edition. (Keyworth, Nottingham, British Geological Survey). OR/20/036. © UKRI 2020 Keyworth, Nottingham British Geological Survey 2020 BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY British Geological Survey offices The full range of Survey publications is available from the BGS Sales Desks at Nottingham, Edinburgh and London; see contact details Environmental Science Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham below or shop online at www.geologyshop.com. The London Office NG12 5GG also maintains a reference collection of BGS publications including 0115 936 3100 maps for consultation. The Survey publishes an annual catalogue of its maps and other publications; this catalogue is available from any of the BGS Central Enquiries Desk BGS Sales Desks. 0115 936 3143 email [email protected] The British Geological Survey carries out the geological survey of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the latter is an agency service BGS Sales for the government of Northern Ireland), and of the surrounding 0115 936 3241 continental shelf, as well as its basic research projects.
    [Show full text]
  • NORTH HINKSEY GROUNDWATER ASSESSMENT for NORTH HINKSEY PARISH NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
    Upton House Market Street Charlbury Oxfordshire, OX7 3PJ United Kingdom tel +44 (0)1608 810374 fax +44 (0)1608 810093 e-mail [email protected] www.gwp.uk.com NORTH HINKSEY GROUNDWATER ASSESSMENT For NORTH HINKSEY PARISH NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN July 2017 GWP Consultants LLP Registered No. OC326183 Registered Office: Upton House, Market Street, Charlbury, Oxfordshire, OX7 3PJ, UK Report Title: North Hinksey Groundwater Assessment Client: North Hinksey Neighbourhood Plan Job: HINKGW Report Number: 170707 Version: v.02 Issue Status: Final Issue Date: 31/07/17 Prepared by: Donal Neville Signature: Approved by: Clive Carpenter Date: 31/07/17 Issue History: Issue Issue Date Description Prepared Checked Approved No. v.01 14/07/2017 Draft issued to Client DN GM CC v.02 31/07/2017 Amendments made as requested DN GM CC by David Kay, Report issued as Final This document is based on GWP report template v1.04 and Normal template v3.07 22/01/15 This report has been prepared by GWP Consultants LLP (GWP) on the specific instructions of our Client. It is solely for our Client’s use for the purpose for which it is intended in accordance with the agreed scope of work. Any use or reliance by any person contrary to the above, to which GWP has not given its prior written consent, is at that person’s own risk and may be an infringement of GWP’s copyright. Furthermore the report is issued on the understanding that GWP’s general terms and conditions of engagement are accepted, copies of which are available on request.
    [Show full text]
  • Argyll Sitesolutions Combined
    SiteSolutions Combined Contaminated Land FURTHER ACTION Flooding PASSED Argyll's Overvie Contaminated Land ! Plausi#le $ontaminant linkages have #een identi'ied and soil and groundwater lia#ilities $ould o$$ur( A$$ordingly) potential Liabilities have been identi'ied under the relevant $ontaminated land legislation. Flood Ris% ! The Site is not $onsidered to be at a signi'i$ant ris% o' 'looding and #"ildings and $ontents insurance should #e availa#le and a''ordable( Environmental Ha+ards ! No other Environmental Ha+ards have been identi'ied in the immediate vi$inity o' the Site( Report on! O*erational Permits ! Sample Site, Sample Street, Anytown, UK No authorisations) li$ences) $onsents or enfor$ements have been identi'ied at or ithin ,-m o' the Site( Report prepared for: Report Reference: Report date: Sam*le Sam*le_Com#ined 5t& Jan"ary ,7/3 Client Reference: National Grid Reference: Sam*le /,01-2) 345/,0 Site Lo$ation Report prepared on Sam*le Site, Sam*le Street, Anytown) U8 Site Area (m2) 0/4,,( Current Use Ass"med Light Ind"strial roposed Use Ass"med Light Ind"strial Report Author As&a Mistry BS$ ;Hons< MS$ PIEMA Tele*&one! 0845 1-4 5250 E=mail: [email protected] Additional "nformation ro#ided = (argyllenvironmental($om Intelligent D"e Diligence Sam*le_Com#ined , 5t& Jan"ary ,7/3 E?e$"tive S"mmary Ris% Eval"ation Contaminated Land F"rt&er a$tion Lia#ility Assessment Potential Lia#ilities &ave #een identi'ied "nder Part ,A o' t&e Environmental Prote$tion A$t /557 ;or &ere a**ro*riate) e@"ivalent re@"irements "nder t&e *lanning
    [Show full text]
  • Cumnor Parish Neighbourhood Development Plan
    Cumnor Parish Neighbourhood Development Plan Landscape Character Assessment December 2018 Cumnor Parish Neighbourhood Development Plan Landscape Character Assessment LC-407 Document Control Box Client Cumnor Parish Council Report title Cumnor Neighbourhood Development Plan: Landscape Character Assessment Filename LC-407_Cumnor_LCA_10_101018CW.docx Date December 2018 Author CW Reviewed JE Approved ND Front cover: View across Cumnor Parish from Eynsham Road south, by Neil Davidson Cumnor NDP Landscape Character Assessment December 2018 LC-407_Cumnor_LCA_10_101018CW.docx Contents 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 3 1.1 Appointment and scope of work ........................................................................................................ 3 1.2 Purpose of this report ........................................................................................................................ 3 1.3 Geographic context of Cumnor ......................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Landscape Character Assessment hierarchy ....................................................................................... 4 1.5 National Landscape Context .............................................................................................................. 5 1.6 County Landscape Context...............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Building Stones of Oxfordshire Villages
    Oxoniensia 78 txt 4+index_Oxoniensia 17/11/2013 12:05 Page 115 ROMANO-BRITISH VILLA AT COMBE 115 The Building Stones of Oxfordshire Villages W. T. H ORSFIELD, D.M. DANE, L. DUNLOP, W. F ULLER and R. MARCHANT SUMMARY This article reports the results of a survey of the use of stone in domestic buildings in some 140 villages across Oxfordshire (including former north Berkshire). The survey was part of a national English Heritage project and focused on older buildings, mainly of seventeenth- to nineteenth-century date. A dozen key local building stones have been identified and described, and their distribution mapped. Stone buildings characterize villages in most of the county, except in parts of the Vale of the White Horse and Chilterns, where half-timbered styles with mainly brick infill are the norm. The mapped distribution of different stone types in relation to the surface geology shows that builders made use of the nearest available outcropping stone, even if its quality was poor. Stone roofing tiles are generally limited to the western and central parts of the county. Oxfordshire is justly known for the charm and diversity of its many stone-built villages. Their appearance varies across the county in relation to the stone used in their construction, from the orange Lower Jurassic Marlstone in the north to the white chalk and dark flint in the south (Fig. 1a–k, below). The different building materials vary not only in colour but also in their properties, such as fissility, strength and porosity. Some building stones split easily along their bedding surfaces or along existing joints, to form rectangular slabs, blocks or tiles, whilst others have an irregular fracture and are not readily shaped.
    [Show full text]