Lodge Hill A34 junction upgrade ‘vital’ for housing plans

The Vale of White Horse District Council is currently consulting plans to upgrade the Lodge Hill Interchange to the north of the town.

Plans to improve the junction include building a new grade separated dumbell junction and the provision of a shared footway and cycleway.

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This comes following the approval in 2017 of a plan for 900 new homes on Twelve Acre Drive.

There have also been a series of other smaller housing proposals.

In a recent letter published on the public planning portal, principal major applications officer Adrian Butler said: “The Vale of White Horse District Council supports the principle of the proposals as the infrastructure will assist in delivering the housing and employment growth identified in the Vale of White Horse Local Plan 2031 parts one and two.

“Without this proposed infrastructure planned new growth may not be delivered.”

MP for Oxford West and Abingdon Layla Moran has blamed the government for delaying necessary funding for the scheme.

She said: “For too long, local people have endured dither and delay from the Conservative government over the incredibly important Lodge Hill Junction.

“This is a vital piece of local infrastructure, which will reduce traffic and air pollution, and support housing developments in and around Abingdon.

“The project is shovel-ready, with a decision on the planning application expected in the coming months.

“All we are waiting for is the government to release the final piece of funding.

“I have raised this issue in parliament a number of times, including a debate I held just six weeks ago, and written to the Treasury to stress the importance of the scheme.

“I urge the government to end these years of broken promises and deliver the infrastructure that people and businesses in Abingdon deserve.

“I won’t stop until the first shovel is in the ground.”

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Councillor Nathan Ley who represents Abingdon North on Oxfordshire County Council welcomed the council’s latest response to the plans.

He said: “I’m glad the district council agrees with almost everyone in Abingdon that this is an essential scheme.

“It looks like we have their seal of approval on the latest plans, now it’s down to the County Council to formally approve it in the coming weeks as I am hopeful will happen.

“Then finally, once we’ve unlocked the final portion of funding from central government (assuming they stick to their previous pledges), we should see construction taking place, and finally a promise made years and years ago will have been kept.”