What problems are residents facing at Buttercross Works due to flooding?

Residents report slip-and-fall injuries, noise disturbances, difficulty with mobility, and an inability to sell their properties.

Is the developer of Buttercross Works housing development in debt?

Yes, the developer, Bower Mapson, owes over £400,000, raising concerns for homeowners about guarantees and future repairs.

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Prize-Winning Estate Drowned by Botched Drainage

Q: Why is Buttercross Works housing development in Witney flooded?

A botched drainage system along the central road has led to significant, near-permanent flooding in the Buttercross Works development.

7 Dec, 2025

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Summary

A botched drainage system leaves a Witney housing development perpetually flooded.
Residents face anxiety, injuries, and inability to sell homes due to constant water.
The developer owes over £400,000, leaving homeowners with invalid guarantees.

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.