Major project to improve travel along A40 gets planning approval

Significant progress has been made towards enabling more reliable journeys, faster bus travel, improved walking and cycling provision along a stretch of the A40, as well as bringing the Eynsham park and ride site into use. 

Planning consent was granted yesterday, 30 June 2026, for Oxfordshire County Council’s latest upgrade to the A40 between Eynsham park and ride and Wolvercote. It features bus priority lanes, new and upgraded junctions, new crossings and upgraded active travel pathways. The project construction contract is set to be awarded to Balfour Beatty, subject to final agreement on cost, programme and contract terms. 

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.” 

The next steps for the project include preparatory works, namely planning condition discharge, site clearance and site compound preparation with construction expected to start later this year.    

The project will be delivered in phases and the first phase, which is fully funded through £126 million of government investment, focuses on providing the new junction to connect the Eynsham park and ride to the A40, alongside bus priority measures and high-quality walking and cycling routes, enabling the Eynsham park and ride to open for use. 

The scheme has been carefully designed to minimise 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.” 

Residents can contact the project team at a40corridor@oxfordshire.gov.uk and may also use this address to sign up to receive regular project newsletters and updates. 

Ends 

For more information about this release contact the Oxfordshire County Council communications team on 01865 323870 or email press.office@oxfordshire.gov.uk.  

Notes to editors 

• The A40 Eynsham Park and Ride to Wolvercote project is a major transport scheme designed to improve journeys between West Oxfordshire and Oxford, while supporting sustainable travel and enabling new housing development.
• The project will enable the Eynsham park and ride to become operational. The full scheme covers approximately 7.3km of the A40 corridor between Eynsham and Wolvercote, and includes

1. Bus priority measures in both directions along key sections of the A40
2. A new junction connecting the Eynsham park and ride to the A40
3. High-quality walking and cycling routes on both sides of the road
4. New and improved crossings for pedestrians and cyclists
5. Junction upgrades, including at Cassington and the Lower Road roundabout
6. Additional bus stops, landscaping, drainage improvements, and road safety enhancements

• The project will be delivered in phases so that work can begin with the funding currently available, with further improvements added as additional funding is secured. The first phase focuses on:

1. The section between Eynsham park and ride and Cassington (approximately 3.5km), including new bus lanes, crossings, and junction improvements
2. Works over Duke’s Cut to provide an eastbound bus lane and improved active travel links into Oxford

• Phase 1 of the scheme is supported by £126 million of government funding from Homes England and the Department for Transport. 

• Featured image above is an artist's impression of the project when completed.

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