Plans for new recycling centre in Bicester are unveiled

Proposals for a new household waste recycling centre (HWRC) in Bicester, to replace the ageing facility at Ardley, are being developed.

Oxfordshire County Council is working on plans to build a modern HWRC next to the Bicester Park and Ride site by 2030 – subject to consultations and planning permission.

Planning permission for Ardley HWRC ends on 30 December 2026, although a planning application is expected later this month seeking an extension through to March 2031.

Councillor Laura Gordon, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy, said: “Ardley HWRC is more than 40 years old and no longer meets the standards expected of a modern recycling centre.

“With the lease due to expire, we have an opportunity to plan a new facility, closer to population centres in Bicester and Kidlington and accessible from major roads.

“As well as providing up-to-date recycling facilities, the new centre will be home to a new re-use facility – something residents have been requesting for a long time."

The preferred access point would be a new junction off Vendee Drive.

“Residents and other interested parties will have opportunities to comment on the proposals as they are developed,” added Cllr Gordon. “A programme of public consultation will support the planning application, and we will keep people informed as the scheme progresses.”

The estimated cost of the new HWRC would be around £6 million and the site is planned to include a reuse shop where suitable items can be sold.

The wider project would be designed to deliver a 20 per cent biodiversity net gain, with habitats managed and maintained for years afterwards, in accordance with national requirements.

The council provides seven recycling centres around the county for Oxfordshire residents to bring household waste. The proposal would maintain this level of service.

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