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Longterm visions for Didcot on display to residents

Published 8 October 2026

New infrastructure, community funding and nature installations – just a few of the long-term visions for Didcot on display last week at a busy event in Harwell. 

The third Didcot Garden Town Community Update Meeting took place on Wednesday 30 September at Harwell Village Hall, with residents, community groups and local businesses invited to attend to find out more about the future plans for Didcot and surrounding areas. 

Around 50 people came to the event with presentations and information on display from the Didcot Garden Town team, other South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Council services and organisations that work in partnership with the programme, these included: 

  • National Grid with details about their £530,000 Community Fund which aims to support community projects that promote lasting social, economic or environmental improvements for communities in Didcot and the surrounding area. 
  • Didcot Powerhouse were on hand to discuss how they support the community. 
  • Oxfordshire County Council’s Didcot and surrounding areas major infrastructure (HIF1) team had the latest information about construction progress on the scheme, which will provide new transport routes to reduce congestion, improve pedestrian and cycling connectivity across the area.   

Cllr Anne-Marie Simpson, Cabinet member for Planning Policy, including Garden Communities at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “It was great to see residents and business representatives attend our latest update meeting, and there was plenty to be updated on!  

“Didcot is a growing town and as such we’re working to meet the needs of the residents and visitors to the area through a range of projects including new infrastructure, improving community facilities, connecting people and focussing on a sustainable way of living for the future of the town and surrounding areas.” 

Cllr Helen Pighills, Cabinet member for Communities at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “It was interesting to hear from residents and our partners at the event on the 30 September. There’s so much planned for the area that it can be confusing as to who is doing what, so to get everyone under one roof was really useful for everyone that attended. It enabled myself, our officers and partners to have meaningful conversations with those who are impacted by the work we are doing and highlight some of the great projects taking place now and in the future.”

More details about the Didcot Garden Town programme can be found on the South Oxfordshire District Council website. Attendees to this latest event can give their feedback via this survey link https://theconversation.southandvale.gov.uk/communities/e376ba51/, and the deadline for comments is the 14 October.