Guidance document Summary: Bicester and the surrounding villages
Contents
Area context
Bicester is an historic market town, and a designated Garden Town located in the Cherwell district of Oxfordshire. The town lies approximately 18km northeast of Oxford and is home to around 56,200 residents[i]. It has a range of amenities and services including restaurants, library, supermarkets, pharmacies, thriving weekly market and other shops centred mostly around Market Square, at the heart of the town. There has been a significant investment in Bicester town centre with the opening of Pioneer Square and associated retail units and amenities. The town acts as a service hub for residents as well as for those living in the surrounding villages who rely on essential services, such as Ambroseden, Ardley, Bucknell, Caversfield, Chesterton, Heyford, Launton, Middleton Stoney and Wendlebury.
Bicester supports a wide variety of employment opportunities. Due to its proximity to the city of Oxford, and its location within the Oxfordshire Knowledge Spine and the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, Bicester benefits from a diverse set of industries including distribution, retail, motorsports, offices, and defence due to its status as a garrison town. The Oxfordshire Industrial Strategy also identifies Bicester as an Eco Zone and Corporate HQ Hub providing an opportunity for ‘living labs’.
One of the major employers in the town is Bicester Village, a world-renowned outlet shopping centre attracting many local and international visitors. The shopping outlet attracts nearly 6 million visitors per year and ranks as one of the top tourist destinations for the UK. Bicester Village is a key economic driver in the area, employing around 3,500 people directly and many others indirectly. Another significant employment site is Bicester Motion, the UK’s only business park dedicated to the promotion and preservation of historic motor cars.[ii]
The town is well-connected by various transport links, typically attracting people who need to commute for work (i.e. to Oxford, London, Birmingham or further afield). In terms of the strategic highway network, it is connected to the A41, which links to the nearby M40 motorway and the A34. As for rail links, Bicester has the advantage of having two railway stations, Bicester North, and Bicester Village. These strategic transport connections link Bicester to key destinations such as Oxford, London, Birmingham, and Milton Keynes.
In terms of walking and cycling, Bicester is well-suited to this mode of transport as the town is compact and flat. Route 51 of the National Cycle Network from Oxford to Felixstowe passes through the centre of Bicester. With the town centre right in the middle, most residents can access it within a 30-minute walk or a 10-minute cycle. To improve cross town connectivity, in February 2025 an 18-month trial began removing the prohibition of cycling on Sheep Street. However, as detailed in the Bicester LCWIP, residential streets lack permeability and the main corridors which run through the town are highly trafficked and frequently congested by vehicles, and do not provide an appropriate, safe or easy to navigate space for walking, wheeling and cycling.
The town is projected to grow significantly in the coming years, up to 18% by 2031[iii]. New residential and employment sites are planned to be developed. The proposed North West Bicester Eco-town development will deliver thousands of new homes, and the hectares of allocated land for employment sites along the A41 corridor plus other sites identified in Cherwell District Council Local Plan 2042 will deliver new opportunities in the area.
[i] Bicester Transport Topic Paper by OCC Dec 2024
Challenges and opportunities
Bicester is projected to grow significantly, with plans for 7,750 new homes by 2042. This growth will increase demand on transport networks and amenities, potentially leading to congestion if not managed effectively. The framework identifies the need to enhance pedestrian, cycling, and public transport infrastructure to address these challenges while promoting a healthier lifestyle.
Improving Connectivity
To maintain and enhance connectivity, the framework emphasizes the need for improved walking, cycling, and public transport options. This includes the introduction of electric bike infrastructure and a comprehensive car club offering to reduce reliance on private vehicles
Air Quality and Public Health
Bicester has two active air quality management areas, indicating issues with air pollution that adversely affect public health. The framework aims to improve air quality through sustainable transport interventions, reducing reliance on polluting forms of transport.
Walking, Wheeling, and Cycling
The document highlights the potential for increasing walking and cycling trips, as many residents travel short distances for work. The framework proposes infrastructure improvements to enhance accessibility for all.
Enhancing Public Transport
Bicester's public transport options include various bus and rail services, yet the usage remains low. The framework calls for integration and enhancement of public transport services to encourage greater patronage.
Place Shaping as a Garden Town
As a Garden Town, Bicester aims to create sustainable communities with access to green spaces. The framework supports the development of low-carbon transport options and healthy place-shaping interventions.
Road Safety
The document notes a concerning number of road injuries in Bicester, emphasizing the need for improved road safety measures as part of the Vision Zero approach to eliminate serious injuries and fatalities.
Vehicle Trips and Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure
The framework recognises the high volume of vehicle trips in Bicester and the need for zero-emission vehicle infrastructure to support the transition away from petrol and diesel vehicles 20 21.
Deprivation
While Bicester has pockets of deprivation, there is need for equal access to opportunities and facilities to bridge the gap between the most and least deprived residents, ultimately aiming to improve living standards and health outcomes for all community members.
Planned Infrastructure Delivery
Work has already commenced to improve transport and places within Bicester. Planned infrastructure projects include:
Completed schemes
- Ploughley Road/ A41 junction improvements
- A41 Oxford Road corridor
- Highway capacity improvements to peripheral routes - western corridor
- Pioneer Roundabout improvements
- Improvements to Middleton Stoney Road roundabout western end
- Charbridge Lane crossing
- Park & Charge infrastructure at Cattle Market and Claremont Car Parks
- Bus facilities at Bicester Village Station
- North West Bicester Ecotown railway crossings (underpass)
- Bicester pedestrian and cycle links
Schemes in progress
- Middleton Stoney Road Active Travel Scheme
- London Road Active Travel Scheme
- A41 Active Travel Scheme
- ‘Cattle Creep’ Scheme
- Banbury Road junction (B4100/A4095)
Objectives
The Bicester Movement and Place Strategy aims to improve the lives of residents of Bicester and surrounding villages by connecting communities, supporting businesses, and enabling journeys for education, leisure, and work. The strategy supports the Council's nine priorities, its LTCP targets, the existing and emerging Local Plans, and national planning requirements.
The objectives and actions are grouped into topic areas, ordered according to the transport user hierarchy. The shift from LTP4 to a place-shaping focus is evident in the MAPS.
Objective BIC1
- Deliver a comprehensive and inclusive walking, wheeling and cycling network.
This objective highlights the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) for Bicester along with the importance of Strategic Active Travel Network (SATN) and Public Rights of Way (PRoW), emphasizing the need for improved walking, wheeling, and cycling conditions due to the current disjointed infrastructure. The plan aims to enhance accessibility and connectivity while promoting sustainable transport options.
Objective BIC2
- Creating a sense of place through implementing healthy place-shaping interventions.
Bicester's town centre is currently designed for motor vehicles, impacting pedestrian and cyclist movements. This objective aims to develop a prioritise people to improve connectivity and create public spaces that promote walking and cycling, following the Healthy Streets Approach. This initiative seeks to enhance the environment, increase shopping footfall, and support sustainable growth while preserving the town's historical character.
Objective BIC3
- Enhance bus infrastructure.
Bicester has a low bus commuting rate of only 2%, compared to 14% in Oxford, highlighting the need for improved bus services to enhance passenger satisfaction. Various bus operators do not accept the MyBus Oxfordshire ticket, complicating travel for passengers. To increase bus patronage, the focus will be on increasing frequency and reliability through collaboration with operators and utilising S106 funding to ensure new developments have access to bus services.
Objective BIC4
- Enhance bus services.
This objective highlights the importance of well-maintained infrastructure for bus services in Bicester, emphasizing the need for quality bus stops and seamless integration with walking and cycling. It highlights the inconsistency in bus stop quality across the area, noting that only a small percentage provide real-time information, and stresses the necessity for accessibility features to create an inclusive network.
Objective BIC5
- Create a network of Mobility Hubs.
Travel by sustainable modes in Bicester is currently low, with only 5% of residents using public transport for work commutes, while most prefer to drive due to convenience. To address transport challenges, the council aims to improve multi-modal travel by developing mobility hubs that integrate various transport options, as outlined in the Mobility Hub Strategy adopted in 2023.
Objective BIC6
- Work alongside partners to improve rail services and infrastructure.
The objective discusses the rail network in and around Bicester, highlighting its importance for residents and visitors, with Bicester Village and Bicester North Stations being among the busiest in Oxfordshire. It emphasises the sustainability of train travel compared to cars and outlines plans to enhance rail services and infrastructure to support an integrated transport network, including ongoing improvements from the East West Rail project, which aims to better connect Bicester with key destinations like Oxford, Milton Keynes, and Cambridge.
Objective BIC7
- Support the development of a car club network and car share schemes.
The objective discusses the absence of car clubs in Bicester, highlighting the potential for establishing a network of zero-emission vehicles to reduce high car ownership rates, which stand at 85% of households. Car clubs are noted for replacing multiple private cars, encouraging walking and cycling among members, and providing significant financial savings compared to traditional car ownership.
Objective BIC8
- Implement demand management measures in areas which are well served by public transport.
High car ownership and traffic in Bicester are causing congestion that affects air quality, public health, and public transport reliability. Future growth in housing and employment will increase pressure on the transport network, necessitating sustainable solutions. To mitigate these impacts, measures which prioritise walking, cycling and public transport, enabling transport choice may be implemented, providing there are attractive sustainable alternatives.
Objective BIC9
- Deliver movement infrastructure schemes.
Objective BIC10
- Deliver future movement infrastructure schemes.
These two objectives outline the need to improve transport infrastructure in Bicester, focusing on reducing car usage and enhancing walking, cycling, and public transport. It emphasizes the need for new highway developments to ensure a reliable transport network while adopting a Vision Zero approach to improve road safety and air quality by redirecting traffic away from high-activity areas.
Objective BIC11
- Work with freight and delivery operators to improve movement efficiency and provide zero-emission deliveries.
The objective outlines a Healthy Streets approach for Bicester, emphasizing the need for safety and innovative solutions to reduce conflicts between LGVs, HGVs, and pedestrians. It highlights the rise in vehicle congestion and emissions due to increased online shopping and suggests alternatives like e-cargo bikes and consolidation hubs to maximise last-mile deliveries. This initiative aligns with the county's Freight and Logistics Strategy and supports local transport policies aimed at enhancing sustainability and public safety.
Objective BIC12
- Deliver infrastructure and placemaking schemes which are resilient to changing climate.
The objective highlights the significant role of the transport sector in carbon emissions and the necessity for environmentally resilient schemes that enhance accessibility to nature. It discusses the National Planning Policy Framework's emphasis on green infrastructure, which provides various benefits, and notes a council-commissioned report predicting £6 billion in economic benefits from green infrastructure in Oxfordshire by 2050. Specifically, in Bicester, the focus is on protecting and enhancing existing green spaces and integrating green infrastructure into new developments.
Objective BIC13
- Utilise emerging and future technologies to develop innovation in Bicester.
Bicester is recognized for its innovative environment, particularly through the Bicester Motion estate at a former RAF airbase and has been designated as a Living Labs Testbed for smart living pilots. The Oxfordshire Local Industrial Strategy highlights the need for improved connectivity and transport technologies to support inclusive and sustainable growth in the region. This objective will seek to utilise innovation to enhance connectivity and enable growth within Bicester and wider area.