Views sought on reimagining of Oxford streets

Movement and place plan envisages shift to more walking, cycling and public transport

Residents, businesses and visitors are being invited to have their say on potential street improvements for the city centre and north Oxford.

Oxfordshire County Council is asking for feedback on ideas that have been developed, and inviting suggestions on new ones, for the future of the city’s streets and squares as part of a Central Oxfordshire Movement and Place Framework project.

The project aims to improve a number of public spaces, support a shift to more walking, cycling and public transport, and improve access to green spaces and water. It builds on the success of recent public realm transformations in Broad Street and Market Street, as well as ongoing improvement works on St Michael’s Street.

Cllr Judy Roberts, cabinet member for infrastructure and development strategy, said: “This project is about imagining the Oxford that puts people first. Suggested improvements will be made possible by our plans to reduce traffic and congestion across the city, and these options show how we could create safer streets with more greenery and space for socialising.”

An initial list of locations that could benefit from improvements has been identified, including Carfax junction, St Giles’, Hythe Bridge Street, Little Clarendon Street and Summertown, among others. 

Improvements have been suggested for reclaiming street space for more creative uses such as enhanced paving, seating, play spaces and greenery; relocating pick up and drop off points for tourist buses; how buses move around and services connect together; school traffic; and how junctions work.

The list of options has been developed in collaboration with local resident groups, civic organisations, public transport operators, landowners and transport user groups.

Cllr Andrew Gant, cabinet member for transport management, added: “We have worked in partnership to develop an initial list of ideas. This is not set in stone but, so we can be ready to make improvements when opportunities present themselves, we want to have early conversations to check if we’re moving in the right direction. I’m looking forward to hearing if the suggested opportunities are the right ones and what other ideas residents have for the future of our beautiful city.”

The Central Oxfordshire Movement and Place Framework project is funded by the government’s Housing and Growth Deal and aims to improve the way public realm is planned and managed by considering transport, planning and regeneration opportunities at the same time.

A full report, including public feedback, will be published later this spring. Individual schemes will be taken forward as funding opportunities arise and will be subject to further public engagement and design work.

The project is one of the measures in the Central Oxfordshire Travel Plan, which sets out actions towards a sustainable and reliable travel and transport system for the area.