A £2.2m flood alleviation project which will protect 110 Oxford homes has been given the go ahead.

At an East Area Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday night Oxford city councillors voted unanimously to approve the project which will protect homes in Marston and Northway in the event of flash foods.

Project manager of the scheme,Helen Vaughan-Evans told councillors at the Town Hall meeting that the project had been borne out of repeated incidents of flooding that had devastated homes.

She said: “This project will protect 110 premises from the risk of flash flooding and protect our residents from that economic and emotional impact of flooding.”

The area was hit by flash floods in 2005, 2007 and most recently in 2012 leading to calls for improved flood defences.

Householders also had to deal with raw sewage flowing into gardens at Old Marston Road in 2014, leading to calls for improved sanitation.

Independent city councillor for Marston Mick Haines led the campaign after pumps in the area struggled to cope with heavy rainfall.

The first phase of the flood alleviation project, centring on Northway Community Field was first approved by Oxford City Council in July.

The second phase, now it has secured permission to go ahead, will see the scheme extended to Court Place Farm Recreation Ground and Peasmoor Piece.

The completed project will see natural moats and small walls installed, channels widened and a wetland reserve to use the open green space in the area as a defence against future flooding.

Following the decision, the Oxford City councillor representing the Marston ward Mary Clarkson said she was pleased the plans had been approved.

She said: “I think it is a really good idea and it has been very well thought through. This will make a big difference for Marston.

“It will be a great weight off the minds of residents who experienced flooding in the past.

“I have seen various people from the area who have had to get sand bags in when there has been flooding.

“People don’t always get very much advance warning so having this in place will really make a big difference to residents’ lives.”

When asked for specific dates on when the work will start she said it was too early to tell given that permission had only just been granted.

All the work for the scheme which has been in the pipeline for the last ten years is expected to be completed by summer 2017.

The scheme is being funded by more than £1.5m of government funding and £600,000 from Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.