Cherwell District Council has reached a key milestone in shaping the future of Banbury town centre by publishing the draft Banbury Vision Engagement Report and outlining its next steps.
Published: Tuesday, 4th March 2025
At its meeting on Monday, 3 March, the council executive authorised the report's release and agreed to engage with the community and partners, including Oxfordshire County Council, to develop a new Banbury Area Action Plan.
The report follows extensive community engagement in early 2024, during which feedback from over 2,700 residents, businesses, and stakeholders provided a clear direction for the town’s regeneration and development.
The engagement findings revealed a strong desire for Banbury to be vibrant, safe, clean, green, fun, independent, and a destination. These values will underpin the Banbury Area Action Plan, guiding future investment and improvement projects to revitalise the town centre.
Councillor Lesley McLean, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Finance, Regeneration, and Property, said: “Banbury’s future belongs to its community and the overwhelming response to this engagement shows how much people care about their town.
“This feedback provides a strong foundation for our vision, aiding us in developing a town centre that addresses the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors. Significantly, this vision is now progressing into a dedicated Banbury Area Action Plan, which will integrate key projects throughout the town into a cohesive, coordinated programme for regeneration.
“This collaborative approach will enable us to align investment, strengthen partnerships, and deliver genuine, lasting improvements that reflect these community priorities. We are determined to ensure Banbury remains a vibrant and sustainable place for generations to come.”
The Banbury Area Action Plan already includes infrastructure projects, such as:
- Improvements to Tramway Road, with work underway to deliver better walking, cycling and bus/taxi links to Banbury railway station.
- A major upgrade to Cherwell Street, funded via the Bus Service Improvement Plan, aimed at improving the capacity and safety of the Bridge Street junction.
Alongside these infrastructure improvements, the vision values emerging from the engagement - including cleaner streets, safer spaces, and a more vibrant cultural and retail offering - are helping shape the town’s future. These values are also influencing other key projects, such as:
- A vacant premises survey, identifying opportunities to bring empty spaces back into use.
- Proposals and emerging ideas around installing seating and planting to enhance the Market Place.
- A new cultural strategy to celebrate Banbury’s rich heritage.
- A public realm frameworks strategy, enhancing public spaces across the town.
The draft Banbury Vision Engagement Report and these early projects reflect the council’s commitment to meaningful, community-led regeneration - ensuring Banbury is fit for the future.
For more information and to view the draft report, click below: