A4095 / B4100 Banbury Road roundabout improvements

About the project

Confirmed design that has been constructed

Bicester is one of the fastest-growing towns in Oxfordshire and the Banbury Road roundabout is a key junction along the Bicester ring road which was identified as a site for improvement in our Local Transport Plan.

The junction must be able to safely handle the number of vehicles travelling in the area, when new homes and jobs come to the town, and provide improved facilities that encourage more people to walk and cycle.

We finished construction of the replacement signalised junction in February 2025, and the junction is now fully open for use. New features include:

• segregated cycleways and crossings at the western and southern arms
• increased capacity, helping to address congestion
• maintaining access for drivers making a right turn from Fringford Road
• a reduced speed limit of 30mph.

Contact us

If you would like to get in touch, please email banburyroadroundabout@oxfordshire.gov.uk. or write to Oxfordshire County Council, County Hall, New Road, Oxford, OX1 1ND.

How it is being funded

The work is fully funded by central government, with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government providing £5.5 million and £5.9m secured from the Growth Deal.  The money can only be used for this scheme.

More information

Why were these improvements needed?

With more than 6,000 new homes planned for the local area, data forecasting showed that the current roundabout would not be able to safely handle the volume of predicted vehicle traffic. The redesigned junction will improve safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians by regulating traffic in a more structured way using signals and lower speed limits.

Why does the speed limit need to reduce?

Due to the crossing and raised table included in the new design, it is a legal requirement to reduce the speed limit to 30 miles per hour.

Why are you trying to encourage more walking and cycling?

Encouraging more people to walk, cycle or take public transport if they can is a key ambition of our local transport and connectivity plan. The redesigned junction has better pavements and cycle paths and safer crossings, to help us achieve this.

How did you decide on the design?

An online public consultation on the initial three design options was held from 19 March to 9 April 2021. You can read the findings of the consultation in full (pdf format, 3.5Mb).

A member-delegated decision was made to take option two and develop it into a signalised junction with additional provision for safe cycling.

Further changes were incorporated following a review of the scheme in 2022 and additional stakeholder engagement in 2023. The change of design was approved at a cabinet member delegated decision meeting in October 2023.

As we worked on the design, we used consultation and planning application feedback, technical assessments and data modelling, safety reports, and a cost review to inform our thinking. We also considered council policies.

Why was the design changed?

Emerging cost pressures led to a review of the scheme in 2022. The scope of the work changed, and we revisited the design to reflect this. The final design saved money and had a reduced impact on the surrounding land, while maintaining features such as segregated cycleways and crossings.

How did the final design differ from the old design?

The final design increased the vehicular capacity of the junction to a similar level as options one and two from the original consultation, included segregated cycleways and crossings that are an improvement on the existing provision, and had a reduced impact on the surrounding land, as we did not  widen the highway as much as originally planned. This avoided the potential requirement for compulsory purchase orders and expensive delays which could lead to funding expiring.

The design is compliant with guidance and two roThe design is compliant with guidance and two road safety audits have taken place. A third safety audit will take place in March 2025 to determine whether additional signing or lining is needed.ad safety audits have taken place.

What safety improvements have been made for cyclists?

Buffer zones between the cycle track and the carriageway have been incorporated on the north-western section which is a key area of vulnerability where traffic turns and where we expect most cyclists to travel.

The speed limit hasalso been reduced from 40mph to 30mph on all arms of the junction. 

When was planning permission granted?

Planning permission was granted in November 2021 for a signalised junction to replace the existing roundabout. We submitted a follow-up Section 73 application in 2023 to take into account the minor changes required.

What engagement have you done?

We have used consultation feedback, planning application feedback and conversations with community representatives to help us make decisions as we developed these improvements. 

In 2021 we held a public consultation on three options for the redesigned roundabout. Further engagement took place with members and a community cycling group, including a June 2021 meeting with councillors.

Throughout 2023, we met with local interest groups as we finalised the current design.

An engagement event to provide information on the scheme was held for residents on 4 October 2023 to:

• provide residents with an update on the progress of the scheme’s design
• to explain the rationale behind the decisions made along with results from the modelling that supported the decision to deliver a signalised junction over a roundabout
• to explain how the construction phase will be delivered and how traffic will be managed during the works
• and answer any queries they may have on the design and construction process

We held a second event on 28 February 2024 and a third on 11 July 2024 to provide information on:

• the construction phases
• traffic management used
• and how we have responded to feedback and mitigated issues on site

We have also engaged with various disability and access groups, local horse-riding societies and some local businesses.