Guidance document Delivery Plan: Science Vale - Movement and Place Plan

This summarises the key actions that need to be delivered to deliver the Science Vale MAPP, with some information on potential costs and delivery timescales.

Both the costs and delivery timescales are indicative only at this point, and are likely to change as the plans for each action develop further and projects start to be delivered. The delivery timescales are from when the project or action commences, as opposed to committing us to a specific delivery time frame at this stage.

Objective SV1 – Enhance public realm in settlement centres
Number Action Estimated Cost Delivery timescale
1.1

Investigate options for the development of schemes for improved public realm, walking, wheeling, cycling, and public transport in:

  1. Market Place, Wantage.
  2. Central Didcot.
  3. Village.
  4. dLocal Centres.
Over £500k More than 2 years
Objective SV2 – Enhance public realm in settlement centre
Number Action Estimated Cost Delivery timescale
2.1 Create a sense of togetherness, place, inclusiveness, and community in new and existing places. Between £100k and £500k Between 2 and 5 years
2.2 Collaborate with partners to support accessible new or enhanced wayfinding, and introduce murals, artwork, rest places, pocket parks, and community parks Less than £100k Less than 2 years
2.3 Work with partners to enhance and upgrade timetables (for buses, activities and events), local guides, maps etc which showcase the local area and its history Less than £100k Less than 2 years
2.4 Support the district councils when they update their Joint Design Guide Less than £100k Less than 2 years
2.5 Seek opportunities to address sub-standard crossing points (including dropped kerbs and tactile paving) to support accessibility and inclusivity Between £100k and £500k Less than 2 years
2.6 Work with partner to remove or improve access control barriers to support accessibility and inclusivity in accordance with our Access Control Barrier Policy Less than £100k Less than 2 years
2.7 Investigate opportunities to develop the 'Oxfordshire Way' and Community Hubs Between £100k and £500k More than 2 years
2.8 Work with partners with a view to provide more community hubs and mixed-use hubs Between £100k and £500k Up to 5 years
2.9 Support opportunities to provide multi-use leisure destinations (e.g. bars/cafés with a range of leisure facilities), in sustainable locations Between £100k and £500k Between 2 and 5 years
2.10 Liaison with workplaces, stakeholders, and partners to join different employment groups together to share ideas and best practice Less than £100k Less than 2 years
Objective SV3 – Deliver a comprehensive, comfortable, direct, safe, coherent and inclusive walking, wheeling and cycling network
Number Action Estimated Cost Delivery timescale
3.1 Work with partners to deliver the walking, wheeling and cycling schemes contained within adopted documents (such as the LCWIP and SATN routes). More than £500k More than 2 years
3.2 Finalise and adopt the LCWIP for Wantage & Grove Less than £100k Less than 2 years
3.3 Liaise with partners to develop new walking, wheeling and cycling schemes to create an easy to navigate, cohesive and safe walking, wheeling and cycling network Between £100k and £500k Less than 2 years
3.4 Investigate changes to the PRoW network to enable use by a wider range of Non-Motorised Users (NMUs) for different journey purposes Between £100k and £500k More than 2 years
Objective SV4 – Ensure developments deliver comprehensive on-site and off-site walking, wheeling and cycling provision
Number Action Estimated Cost Delivery timescale
4.1 Ensure developments deliver walking, wheeling and cycling provision identified in LCWIPs and SATN Between £100k and £500k More than 5 years
4.2 Ensure developments address any gaps in the provision of walking, wheeling and cycling routes, including connections to existing networks, routes identified in LCWIPs and SATN and between developments Less than £100k Up to 5 years
4.3 Prioritise walking and cycling within developments and ensure that provision integrates with off-site routes Less than £100k Up to 5 years
Objective SV5 – Improve accessibility for Non-Motorised Users (NMUs) travelling via waterways and greenways
Number Action Estimated Cost Delivery timescale
5.1 Identify opportunities for improvements along and access to waterways and greenways (including the River Thames, disused Wilts and Berks Canal and the Ridgeway) Less than £100k Less than 2 years
5.2 Support the delivery of improvements along and access to waterways and greenways (including the River Thames, disused Wilts and Berks Canal and the Ridgeway) Less than £100k Over 2 years
5.3 Collaborate with partners including the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust and Canal and Riverside Trust to develop wayfinding and signage, help-points, and mapping along waterways and greenways (including the River Thames, disused Wilts and Berks Canal and the Ridgeway), through extending the scope of the Didcot Wayfinding Strategy Less than £100k Less than 2 years
5.4 Explore options with partners to provide place shaping (e.g. pocket parks, outdoor gyms, and other green spaces) along waterways and greenways (including the River Thames, disused Wilts and Berks Canal and the Ridgeway). With this developed alongside, in line with the Didcot Green Infrastructure Strategy Between £100k and £500k Over 2 years
Objective SV6 – Reduce walking, wheeling and cycling severance caused by physical barriers
Number Action Estimated Cost Delivery timescale
6.1 Explore the reallocation of highway space at the Culham and Clifton Hampden river crossings to improve provision for walking, wheeling and cycling and public transport - subject to the delivery of the Didcot to Culham River Crossing Between £100k and £500k Over 2 years
6.2 Work with partners to remove walking, wheeling and cycling barriers across the Great Western Mainline, Cherwell Valley Line and the Local Road Network More than £500k Over 2 years
6.3 Work with partners and stakeholders to create new links over the River Thames and Cherwell Valley line serving Culham rail station, Culham Campus and strategic sites Between £100k and £500k Less than 2 years
6.4 Work with National Highways to continue developing plans for the Milton Heights walking, wheeling and cycling Bridge Over £500k Less than 2 years
6.5 Work with partners to deliver the Milton Heights walking, wheeling and cycling Bridge Less than £100k Over 2 years
6.6 Explore the opportunities to improve walking, wheeling and cycling across the A34, including connections with Didcot Less than £100k Less than 2 years
Objective SV7 – Introduce shared micromobility schemes, subject to central government legislation
Number Action Estimated Cost Delivery timescale
7.1 Work with partners to create a shared e-scooter and e-bike network, at locations such as mobility hubs, district and community centres, bus stops, leisure. and employment facilities (such as in Didcot and at Harwell Campus, Milton Park, and Culham Campus). Less than £100k Less than 2 years
7.2 Support shared e-scooter and e-bike schemes that link employment sites with residential sites and public transport interchanges Less than £100k Over 2 years
Objective SV8 – Develop a network of cycle parking, hubs, and hangars
Number Action Estimated Cost Delivery timescale
8.1 Review and define the locations for cycle parking, hubs, and hangars including auditing existing locations Less than £100k Less than 2 years
8.2 Work with partners to deliver new, and improve existing, cycle parking. To include the provision for non-standard cycle (e.g. tricycles, cargo bikes, tandems, mobility scooters and adapted bicycles), cycle repair/ maintenance hubs and charging for e-bikes, at appropriate locations. We will also seek to ensure all cycle parking is designed to a high quality so where appropriate, green walls, green roofs, solar panels and landscaping will be provided on and around the cycle parking Between £100k and £500k Over 2 years
8.3 Support the development of a cycle hub at Culham Station Between £100k and £500k Over 2 years
8.4 Develop a cycle parking map showing capacity and levels of use at cycle parking, hubs, and hangars Between £100k and £500k Over 5 years
Objective SV9 – Create a network of mobility hubs
Number Action Estimated Cost Delivery timescale
9.1

Explore opportunities to provide or improve mobility hubs at major interchanges and along key movement corridors:

  1. Didcot Parkway Rail Station.
  2. Culham Station Rail Station.
  3. Proposed Wantage and Grove Rail Station.
  4. A34 Corridor.
  5. A4074 Corridor.
Between £100k and £500k Less than 2 years
9.2 Support the implementation of the Mobility Hub Strategy, including linkage hubs, suburban and rural hubs, and mini hubs Less than £100k Over 5 years
Objective SV10 – Enhance bus services
Number Action Estimated Cost Delivery timescale
10.1 Work with partners to provide faster bus services, with consideration given to increasing frequencies (including "turn up and go" services) and express, or limited stop services and the optimisation of existing services Over £500k Less than 2 years
10.2 Work with partners to provide new bus services in Science Vale including to places outside Science Vale, to locations that are currently underserved and to new developments Over £500k Less than 2 years
10.3 Work with bus operators to ensure improved reliability, attractiveness and resilience of services Over £500k Less than 2 years
10.4 Work with bus operators to improve the service level in the early morning, and late evenings to support employment and the nighttime economy Over £500k Less than 2 years
10.5 Work with operators to provide long-distance coach services connecting to Science Vale Over £500k Less than 2 years
Objective SV11 – Enhance bus infrastructure
Number Action Estimated Cost Delivery timescale
11.1 Work with partners to develop a strategy for the redesign of Didcot Parkway Bus Interchange and Didcot Town Centre, including reviewing routing through the town centre Between £100k and £500k More than 2 years
11.2 Identify opportunities for the improvement of bus infrastructure (e.g. waiting facilities, location for new bus stops, Real Time Information, application of AI, raised kerbs, lighting, shelters, CCTV, onward travel maps). Over £500k Up to 5 years
11.3 Work with partners to develop a strategy for consistent bus branding and route identification across Science Vale. Less than £100k Less than 2 years
11.4 Identify opportunities for bus priority and improvement measures including bus lanes, removal of parking and traffic signal priority within Science Vale Between £100k and £500k Up to 5 years
11.5 Work with partners to introduce bus priority and improvement measures Over £500k More than 2 years
11.6 Work alongside partners to deliver a zero-emission bus network across Science Vale Over £500k Up to 5 years
Objective SV12 – Support improvements to the rail network in the short term
Number Action Estimated Cost Delivery timescale
12.1 Work with Network Rail to ensure the electrification of the rail line between Didcot Parkway and Oxford. Over £500k Less than 2 years
12.2 Work with Network Rail and East West Rail to achieve the extension of East West Rail services to Didcot Parkway and in the future Wantage and Grove, to provide services between Science Vale and Milton Keynes and onwards towards Cambridge Between £100k and £500k Less than 2 years
12.3 Collaborate with partners to improve the accessibility and infrastructure at Culham Rail Station. Between £100k and £500k Less than 2 years
12.4 Work with partners to lobby for additional services and capacity improvements at Didcot Parkway Between £100k and £500k Less than 2 years
12.5 Collaborate with partners to deliver the Strategic Outline Business Case for Wantage and Grove Station Less than £100k Less than 2 years
Objective SV13 – Support improvements to the rail network in the short term
Number Action Estimated Cost Delivery timescale
13.1 Work with partners to improve capacity, accessibility, passenger facilities and direct services at Culham Between £100k and £500k Over 2 years
13.2 Support partners to provide the further enhancement of services from Didcot Parkway Between £100k and £500k Over 2 years
13.3 Develop a strategy with Network Rail to support increased freight capacity through Didcot Parkway Between £100k and £500k Over 2 years
13.4 Work with partners to develop a framework to enable the opening of Wantage and Grove Station Less than £100k Over 2 years
13.5 Work with partners to open a station at Wantage and Grove, subject to the Outline Business Case Over £500k Over 2 years
Objective SV14 – Support the development of a car club network and car share schemes
Number Action Estimated Cost Delivery timescale
14.1 Collaborate with partners to provide a comprehensive network of car clubs, including the prioritisation of parking for car clubs More than £500k Less than 2 years
14.2 Ensure car clubs use zero emission vehicles, where possible Less than £100k Less than 2 years
14.3 Work with developers and business to provide EV charging and parking to support car clubs/ car share and to encourage/promote car sharing to their employees Less than £100k Less than 2 years
14.4 Develop a car sharing awareness / expansion programme through collaboration with partners Less than £100k Less than 2 years
Objective SV15 – Implement demand management measures in areas which are well served by sustainable transport
Number Action Estimated Cost Delivery timescale
15.1 Identify locations for potential demand management measures in suitable locations including restricting car parking availability Less than £100k Less than 2 years
15.2 Work with partners to develop a strategy for the implementation of demand management measures Less than £100k Less than 2 years
15.3 Support the removal of on-street parking along identified routes and high footfall areas, the LWCIPs, DCC, SATN and priority bus routes and to support the delivery of cycleways, where appropriate Between £100k and £500k Over 2 years
15.4 Consideration for the provision of new or extended Controlled Parking Zones Between £100k and £500k Up to 2 years
15.5 Continue to work with our partners to reduce the number of existing parking spaces at existing employment locations, including but not limited to Milton Park, Harwell Campus, Culham Campus and WilliamsF1 Less than £100k Less than 2 years
Objective SV16 – Deliver movement infrastructure schemes
Number Action Estimated Cost Delivery timescale
16.1

Support the delivery of:

a.  HIF1 (Widening of the A4130, Didcot Science Bridge, Didcot to Culham River Crossing and Clifton Hampden Bypass). 

b. Steventon Lights Integrated Transport Scheme.

c. Milton Heights walking, wheeling and cycling Bridge.

d. Northern Perimeter Road Phase 3.

e. Grove Northern Link Road.

More than £500k Over 2 years
Objective SV17 – Develop future movement infrastructure schemes
Number Action Estimated Cost Delivery timescale
17.1

Consider exploring previously identified potential:

  1. A4074 Corridor Study (including Golden Balls).
  2. Didcot Central Corridor.
  3. Frilford and Marcham Improvements
  4. Rowstock Area Travel Study
More than £500k Less than 2 years
17.2

Explore options for the walking, wheeling and cycling transport schemes safeguarded in the South and Vale JLP:

  1. Historic canal route safeguarded for active travel (Wilts and Berks Canal).
  2. Abingdon - Drayton via B4017 (SATN).
  3. Abingdon - Marcham via A415 (SATN).
  4. Abingdon - Berinsfield via A415 (SATN).
  5. Peep-O-Day Lane - Sutton Courtenay (Active Travel).
  6. Berinsfield - Oxford via A4074 (SATN).
  7. Berinsfield - Oxford via Marsh Baldon (SATN).
  8. Milton Park - Steventon via Cinder Track (SATN).
  9. Harwell Campus - Wantage via Ardington (SATN).
  10. Harwell Campus - Milton Park via Hungerford Road, Milton Hill, and Milton Heights Active Travel Bridge (SATN).
  11. Harwell Campus - Harwell village via Winaway (SATN).
More than £500k Over 2 years
17.3

Consider exploring previously identified potential:

  1. Southern Didcot Movement Corridor.
  2. South Abingdon Movement Corridor.
  3. Wantage Western Movement Corridor.
  4. Improvements to Featherbed Lane / Steventon Junction, Relief to Rowstock and Harwell to Didcot Busway.
  5. A4130 Road Safety Improvements.
  6. Improved Access to A34 near Milton Park
More than £500k Over 2 years
Objective SV18 – Develop Corridor Movement and Place Strategies for existing key routes
Number Action Estimated Cost Delivery timescale
18.1

Develop Corridor Movement and Place Strategies on corridors identified in LTCP Part 1: 

a. A4074.
b. A34.

Between £100k and £500k Less than 2 years
18.2 Consider locations for other Corridor Movement and Place Strategies Between £100k and £500k Over 2 years
Objective SV19 – Support the safeguarding of land for movement schemes
Number Action Estimated Cost Delivery timescale

19.1

 

Continue to collaborate with the district councils to safeguard land within Local Plans for movement schemes More than £500k Over 2 years
19.2 Review whether the safeguarding of land for movement schemes needs to be retained in future Local Plans Less than £100k Over 2 years
19.3 Work to identify new areas where the safeguarding of land would be required for future movement schemes Less than £100k Over 2 years
19.4 Collaborate with partners to explore and identify locations for depots, bus stops and interchanges to support public transport and walking, wheeling and cycling Less than £100k Less than 2 years
Objective SV20 – Improve freight, deliveries, and servicing
Number Action Estimated Cost Delivery timescale
20.1 Work with the district councils to continue the electrification of food-waste collection vehicles and encourage all fleet vehicles to be zero-emission (e.g. refuse vehicles, vans). More than £500k More than 2 years
20.2 Explore opportunities to introduce HGV restrictions, for through vehicle trips, in Didcot and Wantage, in areas with high walking, wheeling and cycling movements (e.g. upon delivery of HIF1 and NPR3). Between £100k and £500k Less than 2 years
20.3 Explore opportunities for a zonal network of zero emission parcel deliveries in Didcot, including opportunities for future expansion. Between £100k and £500k Less than 2 years
20.4 Implement a zonal network of zero emission parcel deliveries in Didcot Between £100k and £500k Less than 2 years
20.5 Collaborate with partners to introduce opportunities for first and last mile deliveries hubs using cargo bikes and e-cargo bikes at employment sites in Science Vale Between £100k and £500k Less than 2 years
20.6 Collaborate with partners to explore opportunities to provide micro consolidation hubs at the Science Parks and other multi-operator employment sites Between £100k and £500k More than 2 years
20.7 Support the rollout of parcel/ grocery lockers at key transport locations such as Didcot Parkway, Culham, Wantage and Grove, Mobility Hubs, and local and district centres to support integrated travel Between £100k and £500k Less than 2 years
20.8 Explore the opportunities to deliver rail freight hubs in Science Vale More than £500k More than 5 years
20.9 Investigate the opportunities for a trial of autonomous HGVs and truck platooning in Science Vale, in line with Objective SV22 Less than £100k More than 2 years
Objective SV21 – Develop a Climate Resilience Strategy for Science Vale
Number Action Estimated Cost Delivery timescale
21.1 Investigate opportunities to improve flood resilience in areas with the highest risk Between £100k and £500k Less than 2 years
21.2 Support wider use of blue infrastructure for movement schemes, where applicable Less than £100k Less than 2 years
21.3 Support wider use of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and at new developments, where applicable Less than £100k Less than 2 years
21.4 Develop a strategy to provide the greening or putting solar panels on of bus stops, train stations, signage, mobility hubs, etc. Between £100k and £500k Less than 2 years
21.5 Support schemes that achieve greening and re-wilding of places Between £100k and £500k Ongoing
21.6 Support schemes and help to implement proposals to reduce air pollution Between £100k and £500k Ongoing
21.7 Support the implementation of projects in the Didcot Green Infrastructure Strategy Between £100k and £500k Ongoing
Objective SV22 – Continue to develop Science Vale as a local, regional, national, and global hub for testing new and innovative technologies
Number Action Estimated Cost Delivery timescale
22.1

We will seek to explore the following (but not limited to): 

  1. Zero-emission self-driving vehicle network (i.e., buses, taxis).
  2. Electric charging hubs for e-bikes, buses, commercial vehicles, and cars, etc.
  3. 5G/ 6G and further generation networks along key travel corridors, such as the A34, Oxford Canal Line and Great Western mainline.
  4. Artificial Intelligence uses.
  5. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) deliveries at Harwell Campus, Milton Park, and Culham Campus.

SMART infrastructure (combining physical and digital infrastructure). 

Between £100k and £500k Less than 2 years
22.2

In turn we will:

  1. Facilitate forthcoming new technology to inform future movement and place networks.
  2. Pro-actively seek funding opportunities to deliver and support innovation.
  3. Facilitate forthcoming new technology on our transport network.
  4. Undertake monitoring and evaluation of schemes.
  5. Support the county and other Local Authorities (LAs) by providing data and insights (Living Lab). 
Between £100k and £500k Over 2 years