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Find out more about future plans for Didcot at community event in March

Published 16 February 2026

A free event in March offers an exciting opportunity to find out more about future plans for Didcot. 

Members of the public and community groups in Didcot are invited to attend a special Didcot Community meeting after the success of the first event last year.   

South Oxfordshire District Council and partner organisations for the Didcot Garden Town programme are coming together for this second event, where there will be updates on wayfinding and public art projects, news on the Broadway development and a chance to speak to officers from a range of council services.  

The free event is on Wednesday March 18 at Cornerstone Arts Centre from 5-7.30pm and under the theme of ‘Connectivity and Infrastructure’. It will be a chance for the public to find out about the many exciting projects taking place in the garden town and updates on what has happened since the last event in September 2025.  

Oxfordshire County Council will showcase a number of their major infrastructure projects in the local area including the work currently taking place at Steventon Lights and the new bridges over the railway line and River Thames between Didcot and Culham. They will also give details of the Science Vale Movement and Place plan, the rail strategy and school streets.   

The project will facilitate new and enhanced bus services and will also feature 19km of new walking and cycleways. It will provide opportunities for more direct, faster and more reliable bus routes and improve pedestrian, cycling and wheeling connections.   

Didcot Town Council will be attending to talk to people about their public art project at Edmonds Park and give details about the community events taking place this year.  

Other teams that will be at the community event include:  

  • The Didcot Garden Town team will be displaying the latest wayfinding and public arts projects  
  • South Oxfordshire District Council Grants team, who will be able to provide advice on upcoming community enablement grants  
  • South Oxfordshire District Council Economic Development, who will be on hand to talk about the range of business and organisation support available and tourism information  
  • South Oxfordshire District Council officers will be able to talk about the 116-120 Broadway development  
  • South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse officers will be on hand to discuss the Local Government Reorganisation plans 
  • And the developer Taylor Wimpey will talk about the Valley Park development.  

Cllr Anne-Marie Simpson, South Oxfordshire District Council Cabinet Member for Planning Policy and Garden Communities, said: “We had around 100 people attend in September, and I hope even more will take the opportunity to visit this time around.  

“These projects will make a real difference in Didcot and its surrounding areas, and the event is a great opportunity for local residents to engage, have their voices heard and keep up to date with the progress being made.”  

Cllr Helen Pighills, Cabinet Member for Community Health and Wellbeing at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “This event is a good opportunity for residents to find out more about what is happening locally, including several great projects and support on offer – ranging from new public artwork to the community grants available. There is also a chance to speak with developers about their plans for facilities in the area and ask questions.”   

Cllr Judy Roberts Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “The Science Vale is a significant area of economic growth and is a “hot spot” for enterprise and innovation that spans both South Oxfordshire District Council and Vale of White Horse District Council. It is home to a significant proportion of the region’s scientific, research and development, and high technology businesses.   

“Our infrastructure projects, both those already underway and those planned for the future, form part of a balanced transport strategy which also provides high-quality walking and cycling infrastructure, helping to engender modal shift to more sustainable forms of travel.    

“We are delighted to be attending this event which will allow us to showcase our work to the residents.”  

Ends

Note for editors:

The Didcot Garden Town Delivery Plan programme is working to improve the lives of residents living in and around Didcot Garden Town. It focuses on providing community benefits, a retail recovery strategy, encourage healthy lifestyles and help to tackle climate change.  

This event is replacing the Sounding Boards which took place previously and will these update meetings will now be every six months. 

You can find out all the latest news about Didcot Garden Town on the South Oxfordshire District Council website Didcot Garden Town – updates – South Oxfordshire District Council