Planning Approval Clears the Way for Major A40 Transport Upgrade in Oxfordshire

A significant package of improvements designed to ease congestion, prioritise public transport and enhance walking and cycling facilities along the A40 has moved a step closer after receiving planning approval.

A major infrastructure scheme aimed at transforming travel along one of Oxfordshire's busiest transport corridors has secured planning consent, paving the way for construction to begin later this year.

Oxfordshire County Council has received approval for its latest improvements to the A40 between Eynsham Park & Ride and Wolvercote, marking a significant milestone in a project intended to improve journey reliability while encouraging greater use of public transport and active travel.

The scheme will introduce a range of highway enhancements, including dedicated bus priority lanes, upgraded junctions, new pedestrian crossings and improved walking and cycling routes. It will also provide the infrastructure needed to bring the long-awaited Eynsham Park & Ride into operation.

Subject to final agreement on programme, costs and contractual arrangements, Balfour Beatty is expected to be appointed to deliver the construction works.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repair, welcomed the planning decision, describing it as an important step towards delivering a more efficient and sustainable transport network.

She said the approval would allow work to begin on improvements that will provide more reliable journeys, faster bus services and greater travel choice for residents while also supporting future housing and employment growth across the area.

Preparatory activity is now expected to begin in advance of construction, including the discharge of planning conditions, site clearance and the establishment of construction compounds.

The overall programme will be delivered in a series of phases.

The first phase, backed by £126 million of Government funding, will focus on constructing a new junction connecting the Eynsham Park & Ride to the A40. This initial package of work will also introduce priority measures for buses together with high-quality walking and cycling infrastructure, enabling the park and ride facility to open to the public.

Project designers have sought to balance transport improvements with environmental considerations, incorporating measures intended to reduce impacts on the surrounding landscape and protect local ecology wherever possible.

The final scheme has also been shaped by extensive consultation carried out over the past five years.

Councillor Leffman said feedback from residents, businesses and other stakeholders had played an important role in refining the proposals, particularly in relation to bus priority measures and active travel infrastructure.

She thanked everyone who had contributed throughout the consultation process, acknowledging the patience shown while the plans progressed through design and planning.

Once complete, the A40 upgrade is expected to improve connectivity into Oxford, reduce journey times for public transport users and create safer, more attractive routes for pedestrians and cyclists, supporting the county's wider ambitions for sustainable transport and future economic growth.