Cherwell Street (Banbury) bus improvement project

Construction work on the Cherwell Street bus service improvement project is now complete, and if you are a resident or commuter, you can now enjoy faster, more reliable bus journeys and safer pedestrian crossings in Banbury town centre.

Pedestrian crossings have also been improved, and nearby drainage and gully infrastructure cleaned.

Construction started in January 2026. Surfacing and road lining works finished on 17 July, and the new permanent traffic signals have just been tested and installed.

The scheme forms part of our wider commitment to creating a healthier, more accessible and attractive county where journeys are quicker, more connected, more flexible and more reliable.

Fig 1. Bridge Street junction

Fig 2. George Street junction

About the project

We were awarded government funding to improve bus journey times and reliability into and out of Banbury town centre. We are took this opportunity to improve pedestrian facilities and signalling at two key junctions in the centre of town.

We focused on Cherwell Street, between the George Street and Bridge Street junctions, and the Bridge Street and George Street junctions themselves. This area is congested during peak times, which worsens bus journey times and reliability.

The improvements include:

• implementing a longer running lane along Cherwell Street for left-turning vehicles, including buses, travelling north-bound into Bridge Street (west)
• improving pedestrian facilities with new, safer, and more direct crossings
• optimising traffic signals to reduce delay for buses and cars
• and lining and signing work to improve traffic flow, safety, and overall road user experience.

Stay up to date on the work

Email cherwellstbus@oxfordshire.gov.uk to ask the team a question or call our customer services team on 01865 519800, who will arrange for someone to get in touch with you.

We also recommend signing up to:

• our county travel and transport bulletin: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/contact-council/sign-hear-us

For information about other planned roadworks or incidents, visit https://one.network

Funding

The project was largely funded by the Department for Transport's Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) programme and improvements to bus service reliability and journey times are core requirements.

Additional money from local developers (known as Section 106 contributions) funded crossing facility and signal improvements at the Bridge Street junction. This will make it safer for people walking, cycling, and wheeling to bus stops, the town centre, and Banbury Rail Station.

More information

How did you decide how to improve the junction?

In 2024 we shortlisted five options that could improve bus journey times and reliability:

1. Improving pedestrian crossing facilities at the George Street and Bridge Street junctions with Cherwell Street plus widened footways on the Concorde Avenue arm.
2. Option one plus a signalised crossing of the George Street bus lane and widened footways on Cherwell Street and at the Bridge Street junction.
3. Bus priority lane northbound on Cherwell Street.
4. Bus lane with no right turn into Bridge Street (east).
5. Adjusting the timing and co-ordination of traffic lights to improve the flow of vehicles, reduce congestion and enhance safety on the roads.

We used concept design work, data modelling of traffic movements and feedback from county, district and town councillors and Stagecoach Bus to develop the preferred option. This option combined option five with pedestrian improvements and an extended bus lane on Cherwell Street and amended the proposed layout for Bridge Street (east).

Did you hold any consultations?

We ran a public consultation from 4 March to 1 April 2024 to collect feedback to help us to develop the preliminary design. More information can be found on our Let's Talk Oxfordshire website, including the full consultation report.

Elements of the design we consulted on required the removal of highway lanes and/or reduced highway capacity to improve pedestrian crossing facilities. In response to feedback, we investigated this further using updated traffic modelling data and detailed design work.

We held a second consultation, from 24 February to 23 March 2025, during which we shared data showing the impact of the scheme on journey times for buses and other vehicles. More information about the consultation, including information materials, can be found on our Let’s Talk Oxfordshire website. You can also read the full consultation report.

What happened after the consultations?

We made six changes to the design in response to the consultation results, safety and technical work, and stakeholder feedback. All changes retain the pedestrian and bus journey time benefits.

We spent summer 2025 talking to local active travel organisations, business and transport groups, and councillors about these changes. A full description of the changes and stakeholder meeting notes are available in Annex 4 of the cabinet member decision meeting paper.

We then made our final recommendations based on their feedback and technical and safety assessments. A decision to accept the amended design and begin construction was made at the 4 September 2025 Cabinet Member Decision meeting.

What about cycling infrastructure?

Improvements for cyclists cannot be included in this scheme due to a lack of available space. Consultation feedback and conversations with local groups highlighted that this was a concern.

However, route 10 of the Banbury Local Cycling & Walking Plan schemes is currently being designed using active travel funding and will include a modal filter between Lower Cherwell Street and Bridge Street east. 

The final design of the Cherwell Street bus improvements will include features to allow the Bridge Street and George Street junctions to be upgraded to toucan crossings, when the cycle link is delivered.

What are the full range of improvements?

Along the Cherwell Street corridor between George Street and Bridge Street this includes:

• Refreshing existing line markings (including 'keep clear' markings at petrol station access/egress).
• Creating an extended left-turn northbound on Cherwell Street into the town centre.

At the George Street/Cherwell Street junction, this includes:

• Widening the existing bus lane at the junction where the buses turn left, which has a sub-standard lane width.
• Introducing a pedestrian crossing on George Street and on the northern arm and improving existing crossings
• Improving the traffic lanes approaching the junction from the south and removing the islands in Cherwell Street.

At the Bridge Street/Cherwell Street junction, this includes:

• Optimising traffic signals.
• Improving the junction for pedestrians on Bridge Street (west).
• Reconstructing the pedestrian islands along Concord Avenue (north).
• Removing the pedestrian island along Bridge Street (east and west).
• Reconstructing the pedestrian islands along Cherwell Street (south).
• Altering the highway lane allocations on Bridge Street (east) to address left-turning vehicles mounting the footway due to sub-standard lane widths. This may lead to reduced highway capacity on Bridge Street (east).
• Update line markings in the junction.

We are no longer adjusting to traffic lane allocation at the Cherwell Street/Concorde Avenue/Bridge Street junction and the Cherwell Street/George Street junction.

How does this project relate to wider Banbury improvements?

The Cherwell Street improvements complement work being done to improve access to Banbury Rail Station.

Both projects focus on investing in public transport and pedestrian infrastructure, in line with our Local Transport Connectivity Plan.

The improvements are part of the Banbury Movement & Place Plan 2026, which contributes to regeneration proposals for Banbury and aims to make it easier for those using public transport or walking, wheeling, or cycling to move through the town.

The improvements also form part of the Banbury 2050 vision and support the objectives of the Oxfordshire County Council, Cherwell District Council and the government's public transport