South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have revealed the proposed masterplan for Didcot Garden Town.
On 19 January many local stakeholder representatives viewed the plans at a special preview evening.
The main features of the Didcot Garden Town draft Masterplan include a better connected town centre, with safe cycle routes to multiple locations, a new Leisure Centre in the North East of the town, and the potential to upgrade the station and the access to the railway museum.
Building on the £50 million expansion of the Orchard Centre, local businesses will be supported with improvements to Broadway, and space for activities such as markets and events.
A mix of affordable and private rented housing will be the focus of plans for the current Gateway site opposite the station, with smaller shops and places to eat and drink to support the new community there. While, to the north of the railway line, a new world class Technology Institute could make Didcot a centre of excellence for research and development in advanced technologies.
Plans for new schools, health centres and other services are also included, with the district councils proposing to work the County Council, the NHS, highways, the ambulance service and the police to ensure services are of the highest quality.
The new developments will be supported by infrastructure such as the construction of new roads and new technology to improve traffic flow.
Didcot is surrounded by beautiful countryside and its location is part of what makes the town such as attractive place to invest. The Garden Town will result in an increase in publicly accessible open space by almost four times the current amount.
Cllr John Cotton, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “The Didcot community have been very enthusiastic in telling us what they want from a Garden Town. Their input will ensure we can deliver a truly innovative scheme that will offer the housing, jobs and the infrastructure we need to make Didcot a wonderful place to live, work and invest.”
Cllr Mathew Barber, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council said: “The draft proposals give residents of Didcot and the surrounding villages a first glimpse into how great Didcot Garden Town could be. These plans are truly innovative, offering first class shopping experience, with more places to eat and drink, safe cycling routes, green spaces and new business opportunities.
The final draft Didcot Garden Town Delivery Plan will be published for public consultation in the spring of 2017, followed by a formal six week consultation process.
You can view the main proposals now at www.didcotgardentown.org.
Communications
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils
01235 422400
www.southoxon.gov.uk | @southoxon
www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk | @whitehorsedc
