Works to improve junction capacity at Lodge Hill given planning permission
Oxfordshire County Council has given the green light to planned improvements to the Lodge Hill Interchange on the A34.
The project supports the county council’s ambition to create a greener, healthier Oxfordshire by providing safer and easier active travel options for future inhabitants of planned developments in north Abingdon.
The work is set to improve junction capacity, as well as make cycling and walking easier and safer in the area. It will allow for shorter journey times by adding new south-facing slip roads to the A34, cycle and pedestrian safety improvements, and layby upgrades on the A34.
The junction currently has north-facing slips only and is located between Abingdon and Oxford.
Councillor Duncan Enright, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Travel and Development Strategy, said: “The approval of this application is fantastic news, as securing planning consent is a key milestone in moving forward with this project.
“The proposed work aims to improve connectivity from the north of Abingdon to the town centre and make it easier for people to choose walking, cycling or taking public transport as part of their daily routine. It will reduce traffic through Abingdon, making walking and cycling in the town safer and easier.
“Oxfordshire needs a modern, reliable, affordable and sustainable transport system. The wider Science Vale area will see significant growth in the coming years and investment is needed now so that the transport network can meet the demands that will be placed upon it in the future.”
The county council held a public consultation in early 2021 to gather initial feedback on the scheme. Revised proposals based on the consultation feedback were included in the planning application.
In addition, as part of a wider package of transport measures surrounding the site, traffic calming measures are also proposed north of the Lodge Hill junction. These measures will be brought forward by Oxfordshire County Council separately to the Lodge Hill scheme, as they will only require amendments to existing road infrastructure.
Planning approval for the project was granted through a county council delegated decision, following submission of the original planning application in October 2022 and a supplementary submission to support the application earlier this year.
The A34 Lodge Hill scheme is funded from several sources including contributions from developers, Growth Deal and funding directly from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). However, following a review of the scheme in 2022, a funding gap was identified.
Currently, the council is engaging with Homes England to secure additional funding that will help accelerate the detailed design process and enable construction to begin.
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