Planning permission has been approved for Oxfordshire County Council's next phase of improvements to the A40 between the Eynsham park and ride and Wolvercote, paving the way for more reliable journeys, quicker bus services, enhanced walking and cycling routes, and enabling the Eynsham park and ride to open.

The scheme includes dedicated bus priority lanes, new and upgraded junctions, improved crossings and enhanced active travel paths. Subject to final agreement on cost, programme and contract terms, the construction contract is set to be awarded to Balfour Beatty.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repair, said: "We are happy to progress this important project. Securing planning consent now means we can start delivering improvements that will make journeys along the A40 more reliable and give people better choices for how they travel. When completed, the project will support new jobs and and housing in the surrounding area."

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Initial steps will involve preparatory activity, including discharging planning conditions, site clearance and setting up site compounds, with main construction anticipated to start later in 2026.

The programme will be delivered in phases. The first phase, fully funded through £126 million of government investment, will provide the new junction linking the Eynsham park and ride to the A40, alongside bus priority measures and high-quality walking and cycling routes, allowing the park and ride to become operational.

The design has been developed to reduce impacts on the surrounding landscape and ecology.

Councillor Leffman added: "Feedback from public and stakeholder engagement over the past five years has helped shape the final design, particularly the bus priority and active travel improvements. We are grateful for all the input received and for everyone's patience throughout the process."

Covering around 7.3km of the A40 corridor from Eynsham to Wolvercote, the overall scheme will deliver bus priority measures in both directions along key sections, a new junction for the park and ride, high-quality walking and cycling routes on both sides of the road, new and improved pedestrian and cycle crossings, and junction upgrades including at Cassington and the Lower Road roundabout. It also includes additional bus stops, landscaping, drainage improvements and road safety enhancements.

Phase one will prioritise the section between the Eynsham park and ride and Cassington (approximately 3.5km), adding new bus lanes, crossings and junction improvements, plus works over Duke’s Cut to create an eastbound bus lane and better active travel links into Oxford. This phase is supported by £126 million from Homes England and the Department for Transport.