Didcot Northern Perimeter Road 3

About the improvements

Known as the Didcot NPR3, the scheme aims to:

• discourage vehicle traffic from passing through the centre of Didcot.
• connect to existing, planned and proposed cycling and walking routes
• Support planned growth in housing and employment in the region while following the policies set out in Local Transport and Connectivity Plan (LTCP, 2022) 

Why we are investing here

Didcot is one of the largest settlements in Oxfordshire and the principal town of South Oxfordshire District.  It lies at the heart of the ‘Science Vale', the UK’s leading area for science, technology, innovation and research.

Significant growth in housing and employment in the town and surrounding area is expected over the next few years and to cater for this growth, the transport infrastructure serving Didcot requires investment.

What you can expect

The road will be delivered in two sections: the north section, which will be delivered directly by Oxfordshire County Council, and the south section, which Bloor Homes, the housing developer for the Ladygrove East Development, will deliver. 

The county council has developed preliminary designs for the northern section of the Didcot NPR3 scheme, which will comprise the northern junction, and where it connects to the existing A4130, Abingdon Road and Ladygrove carriageways. 

The scheme also includes a new link that will connect the northern junction with the southern section of the Didcot NPR3 scheme, which Bloor Homes will construct and deliver.

Northern junction - proposed A4130 / Abingdon Road / Ladygrove signalised junction 

• Traffic light controlled signalised junction at Abingdon Road / A4130 with improved crossing facilities for both cyclists and pedestrians
• LTN 1/20 compliant cycleway footway
• Ecological enhancements
• Sustainable urban drainage systems
• Noise-reducing carriageway surfacing
• Critical links to existing and proposed local cycle and walking infrastructure

Link section – proposed link between the northern junction and the roundabout (part of the southern section to be delivered by Bloor Homes)

• Segregated cycleway and footway from carriageway enhancing and promoting sustainable travel options
• Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems
• Improved biodiversity and ecological enhancements
• Noise-reducing carriageway surfacing

Connecting to existing pedestrian and cycle infrastructure 

• Creating and promoting sustainable travel links from Hadden Hill to Abingdon Road
• Reduced journey times
• Providing critical links to existing and proposed local cycle and walking infrastructure
• Encouraging an increased use of more sustainable modes of transport

The southern section of the Didcot NPR3 scheme, which will connect onto the A4130 Hadden Hill carriageway via a new roundabout, is to be constructed/delivered by Bloor Homes as part of the Ladygrove East housing development.

The northern section of the scheme will directly connect to the southern section. This will then in turn lead to a new roundabout approximately 160m south of this connection point, which will then lead towards the proposed Hadden Hill roundabout a further 450m south. 

Timescales

Preliminary design of the north section is currently underway and indicative timescales for the project follows:

Timescales for the delivery of the south section are dependent on the progress made by the housing development.

Minimising the impact

Until a final design and planning permission is secured, the traffic management arrangements during construction remain to be confirmed.  We will coordinate the work to minimise the impact on the network as far as is reasonably practicable. Further details of this will be available closer to construction.

How it is being funded

The northern section of the scheme is being funded through a combination of infrastructure grant funding from the Government, Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding and Section 106 contributions from developers. 

Bloor Homes are funding the delivery of the southern section.   

Next steps for the north section

We are currently undertaking the preliminary design stage of the scheme. This stage will include several surveys to assess the scheme's impact on the local environment and inform the initial design. 

A public engagement exercise took place between  25 February and  25 March 2025. It showcased the preliminary design details and road layout. The engagement included an online survey and was supported by two drop-in events for members of the public to see the proposals in person and ask questions of the project team. 

You can still view the engagement on our Let’s Talk Oxfordshire[ platform; however, the survey is closed to contributions.  

 We’ll review the feedback from the public engagement in more detail, to make any necessary amendments to the draft design before a planning application is submitted. The feedback will be included in the planning application as a Statement of Community Involvement.

In preparation for submitting a planning application later this year, the following assessments are also being undertaken:

• Archaeological
• Ecological
• Environmental
• Traffic

Contact us 

If you would like to know more, you can contact us by email: didcotnpr3@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Queries relating to the Ladygrove East housing development should be directed to Bloor Homes.