Adapting to more heatwaves, flooding and other extreme weather
Climate adaptation in Vale of White Horse
The Met Office climate projections show an increased likelihood of:
- warmer, wetter winters
- hotter, drier summers
- increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather.
Like everywhere else, Vale of White Horse is increasingly feeling the effects of climate change, with more rainfall and regular storms resulting in wind damage and/or flooding destruction and disruption. Summers are getting hotter with extreme temperatures affecting crops, wildlife and putting the health of vulnerable people at risk. The heat and inconsistent rainfall can lead to potential water shortages.
“The chance of exceeding 40°C [in the UK] has been rapidly increasing, and it is now over 20 times more likely than it was in the 1960s.” Report from Dr Gillian Kay, Senior Scientist at the Met Office
Information for individuals and businesses
Check your risk: Is your area at risk from flooding?
Check your postcode: Is your area vulnerable to extreme heat?
Community resilience: Information to help communities, individuals and businesses plan for unexpected events
What can we do
Adapting to our changing weather to help build resilience among our communities is one of the five themes for action in our Nature and Climate Action Plan. We look at how the council can ensure our services are resilient to a changing climate and how we can support our residents and community to adapt to the extremes of a changing climate.
This includes:
- installing flood alleviation schemes and flood defences eg. a natural flood management scheme to reduce the flood risk for those living downstream.
- setting up flooding and weather alerts for storms or heatwaves so people can prepare
- promoting ‘cool spaces’ and advice during times of extreme heat and ‘warm spaces’ when it gets very cold
- insulating buildings to make us more comfortable – cooler for longer in extreme heat (and warmer for longer in cold snaps)
- planting trees which provide natural shade (see main pic of trees near the council building in Abingdon). Trees also help with preventing flooding by soaking up water and stopping soil being washed away.
- working in partnership to make the district more resilient to a changing climate. Further details can be found in Oxfordshire Council Council’s Climate Vulnerability Assessment, and the Climate Change Adaptation Route Map for Oxfordshire 2025-30.
The council has developed forward-looking planning policies on climate change in the Joint Local Plan which is currently under examination. This includes Policy CE1 Sustainable design and construction which addresses adaptation, as follows:
“All new development should be designed to improve resilience to the anticipated effects of climate change. Proposals should incorporate measures that address issues of adaptation to climate change taking account of best practice. These include resilience to extreme weather, including increasing temperatures and wind speeds, droughts, heavy rainfall and snowfall events and the need for water conservation and storage.”
Contact us - Climate and biodiversity team
Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
OX14 3JE
