A public consultation is opening soon on a new cycle and pedestrian river bridge that will connect two major redevelopment sites.

Oxford City Council is seeking views from local people to help develop the design of the Oxpens River Bridge, a new pedestrian and cycle bridge linking the future proposed redevelopment of the Osney Mead industrial estate to the proposed Oxpens redevelopment and Oxford City Centre.

Oxford City Council said the views of local people will be used to develop the bridge’s design and inform a planning application in Autumn 2022.

It is estimated once approved by planning, the bridge will take a year to construct.

The consultation is open from July 19 to September 13 and views can be given online and in-person.

An in-person event will be held at Oxford Ice Rink on Tuesday July 19 from 3.45pm to 7.30pm.

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The Oxpens River Bridge is proposed to be located at Grand point Nature Park and Oxpens Meadow, connecting from Osney Mead to the west to Oxford City Centre and the Oxford Train Station, and beyond to the wider walking and cycling networks.

The bridge is a requirement of the Oxford Local Plan and is needed to support the proposed mixed-use redevelopment at Osney Mead, creating a new quarter of the city, where business units may share the space with new homes.

Funding for the proposed bridge is from the Oxfordshire Growth Deal, which funds infrastructure to support new housing delivery.

The funding package was set by the County Council.

In March 2020, the city council agreed to take on the role of progressing the bridge through the design, planning and delivery stages on behalf of the County Council.

It has since become clear that there is a funding gap, but it was agreed with the County Council the design would be completed and planning permission secured whilst work was undertaken to seek to address the funding gap.

In addition to the new homes and businesses planned for both Osney Mead and Oxpens redevelopments, other West End projects in the coming years include the redevelopment of Oxford Station, creating new tracks, and better east to west routes.

Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery at Oxford City Council, said: “we are really keen to hear local people’s views on the proposed Oxpens River Bridge, as we want a design that opens up the whole area by the river, so more people want to walk, run and cycle along it.

“The bridge will link the proposed exciting transformation of the existing Osney Mead industrial estate with the city centre.

“We hope the new bridge will enhance people’s lives as much as it will enhance the unique character of the area.”

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1

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