Prize-Winning Estate Drowned by Botched Drainage

Residents of the Buttercross Works housing development in Witney, Oxfordshire, are enduring a persistent nightmare caused by a critically flawed drainage system. This once award-winning estate is now characterized by near-permanent flooding along its main road, leading to significant distress and even injuries among inhabitants. The constant water accumulation makes pavements dangerously greasy, resulting in falls, particularly for elderly residents, and renders mobility scooters difficult to use.

The stress of living in this waterlogged environment has left homeowners anxious and desperate to relocate, yet they are trapped by the fear that their properties have lost all market value. Concerns are amplified by the developer, Bower Mapson, facing substantial debts exceeding £400,000, potentially invalidating any new-build guarantees and leaving residents with little recourse for the ongoing issues, including damaged roads and pavements.

Beyond the flooding, residents have reported numerous initial construction defects, such as a misplaced sink and a faulty bath drain, indicating a pattern of poor workmanship. The failure to connect many homes to the mains drainage system, forcing residents to pay for a private system, adds another layer of financial burden and concern about the long-term viability of the development.