6 new park and ride sites suggested across Oxfordshire

The study suggests a new park and ride site along the A4074 corridor at Land South of Grenoble Road, with capacity for around 600 parking spaces.

The study also highlighted the potential for alternative park and ride capacity in the longer term at Berinsfield or the Golden Balls roundabout.

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With this discussion coming forward in the Thame, Watlington & surrounding villages property development plan.

The study also suggests the potential for alternative sites at Lodge Hill on the A34 corridor, which will be discussed at the Abingdon-on-Thames and Eastern Vale property development plan.

The study also promoted additional capacity at Peartree Park and Ride via a new site at Oxford Airport, with a capacity of around 1,100 car parking spaces.

Retaining and delivering a site at Cumnor Hill, with a capacity for 600 spaces, was also included in the study.

This site would accommodate additional demand at the Seacourt Park & Ride and mitigate the impact of flooding at Seacourt.

The proposed sites at in the Southeast of Oxfordshire would all fill a gap in the current network of park and rides.

The study also suggested that all existing Park and Rides would remain in the same place.

However, better facilities would be provided at all sites including electric vehicle charging, more parking for cycles, e-scooters and e-bikes and improved customer waiting facilities.

The study also stated that improvements are particularly needed at Parkway, Thornhill, Redbridge and Pear Tree.

A map of the current Park & Ride sites and the suggested sites (Image: Google Maps)

Capacity at Oxford Parkway would be maintained at the current level, so around 700 spaces with the option to increase car parking for park and ride by regaining some of the leased capacity or promoting the use of Bicester Park and Ride.

The construction of the Eynsham Park and Ride site was completed in 2024, as the first phase of the A40 Eynsham to Wolvercote scheme.

The next phase will see the construction of the access junction to enable the site to become operational. The scheme is awaiting the outcome of the planning application.

Upon planning approval, the scheme is ready to mobilise during 2026 with view to completion in 2028.

The Park and Ride is being planned to become operational before the end of the full works of the A40 Eynsham to Wolvercote scheme, as the access junction works are part of the first construction phase.

The report was considered by Oxfordshire County Council’s place scrutiny and overview committee on April 22 as part of an update of the actions being taken to implement the Local Transport & Connectivity Plan’s policies, plans and schemes relating to rural transport.

In the central Oxfordshire travel plan by Oxfordshire County Council the council found that park and rides have been successful in reducing congestion and supporting a shift into sustainable travel modes.

However, the plan notes that since the pandemic these sites have become underutilised as travel habits have shifted.