A long-term plan to create a healthier, better connected and more sustainable future for one of Oxfordshire’s key scientific hubs has been approved, setting out a 25-year vision for transport and placemaking across the Science Vale area.
Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet has adopted the Science Vale movement and place plan, which outlines 22 objectives and accompanying actions designed to shape a comprehensive transport strategy for the area.
The Science Vale spans the districts of South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse and includes Wantage, Didcot, surrounding villages and major employment sites at Culham Campus, Harwell Campus and Milton Park.
Central to the plan is a shift away from private car use, prioritising walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport to improve health, accessibility and environmental outcomes. The strategy responds to the area’s rapid growth and its role as a centre for world-class research and innovation.
Science Vale is currently home to around 73,000 people, a figure expected to rise to more than 170,000 by 2050. This projected growth highlights the need to address challenges such as congestion, air quality, rural accessibility and increasing pressure on public transport infrastructure.
Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “Oxfordshire is embarking upon sustainable and positive change – placing people, communities and places at the heart of this.
“The movement and place plans, including this one for the Science Vale, are key to this. They reflect the needs and aspirations of our communities, help to protect our natural environment and deliver the homes, businesses and leisure facilities that our communities need and enjoy.
“A significant shift in this strategy has been putting people at the heart of plan making, alongside movement and working towards understanding the meaning of place at a local level.”
The plan’s objectives include the creation of a comprehensive active travel network that is safe, comfortable and direct. Proposed measures include updating national cycle routes, improving lighting and surface quality, reducing severance caused by busy roads and introducing cycle hubs.
Public transport improvements are also prioritised, with proposals for better bus frequencies, improved interchanges and long-term rail enhancements, including support for a Wantage and Grove station.
The strategy also seeks to support economic growth and innovation, reflecting the area’s global reputation in life sciences, fusion research and space technology, while protecting nature and enhancing public spaces to strengthen community identity.
The plan’s vision received strong support during public consultation. It is one of 12 proposed movement and place plans that the council aims to deliver over the next year, supporting Oxfordshire’s wider local transport connectivity plan adopted in 2022.
