Oxfordshire LEP Strategic Economic Plan

March 2014

Driving Economic Growth Through Innovation ii | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | iii

Foreword

Oxfordshire is renowned across the globe for its academic excellence, Innovative business culture and quality of built and natural environment. We have Europe’s largest concentration of multi-million pound science research facilities, underpinning our leading position in advanced engineering, manufacturing and life sciences, in addition to being at the heart of the UK’s growing international space cluster.

Oxfordshire is therefore primed for investment with solid economic foundations. We have ambitious plans to support our economic Adrian Shooter growth and the creation of sustainable jobs for our communities Chairman, Oxfordshire Local Our integrated approach, driving “economic growth through Enterprise Partnership Innovation”, presents government and business with a compelling case for investment. Therefore investment of Local Growth Fund resources will leverage significant public and private sector commitment building upon our successful City Deal and proposed European Structural and Investment Fund programme. We are confident that by jointly investing in our economy the Government will see significant positive growth for the UK as a whole.

Through our collaborative working arrangements, the Local Enterprise Partnership, businesses community, local authorities and universities are working together to plan and deliver economic growth for the benefit of Oxfordshire and the UK economy.

Oxfordshire is successful, we have the potential to do much more and fulfil our economic potential. We believe we are in a great place to start delivering on this potential and our plan sets out how we intend to get there.

Adrian Shooter

Chairman, Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership iv | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | v

Summary: Oxfordshire’s Strategic Economic Plan

Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership Our recently agreed City Deal allows us to brings together business, the universities, put in place the initial phase of our growth colleges, research facilities and local ambitions to accelerate Oxfordshire’s authorities in our area: Oxford City Council, economy and drive growth. Our Strategic Cherwell District Council, South Oxfordshire Economic Plan builds on these ambitions. District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council, West Oxfordshire District Council and Our City Deal will: Oxfordshire County Council. • Invest in an ambitious network of new This is our Strategic Economic Plan for innovation and incubation centres to Oxfordshire and our bid to Government for nurture small businesses and capitalise on Local Growth Funding. This plan has been the intellectual assets of our universities developed by, and is jointly supported by, our and Big Science facilities: business community, academic institutions »» the Harwell Innovation Hub: focused and county and district councils. on open innovation Our Strategic Economic Plan sets out our »» the UKAEA Culham Advanced ambition for Oxfordshire to 2030 – to drive Manufacturing Hub: focused on remote accelerated economic growth to meet the handling technologies needs of our science and knowledge rich »» the Oxford BioEscalator: focused on economy placing Oxfordshire at the forefront the life sciences sector of the UK’s global growth ambitions. »» the Begbroke Innovation Accelerator: focused on advanced engineering sectors It sets out our ambition for increased business growth and productivity supported • Invest in Growth Hubs to help small and by accelerated housing delivery, better medium enterprises to grow through integrated transport, a better qualified better business support – with a particular workforce underpinned by a quality of place focus on supporting innovation that few locations can offer. • Accelerate the delivery of 7,500 homes across the county; and recognise that We already have a successful economy. the provision of quality housing will be Oxfordshire is regularly cited amongst the fundamental to the delivery of innovation- top 10% of Local Enterprise Partnerships led growth nationally. However we, like other Thames • Enable three new transport schemes to Valley Local Enterprise Partnerships, operate support developments: the Enterprise in a globally competitive arena where historic Zone, the Northern Gateway and the and continued success cannot be taken for first phase of the “Science Transit” public granted. It is vital therefore that our Strategic transport scheme that aims to join up our Economic Plan focuses on our unique growth areas economic assets and seeks to drive investment in our sectors and locations of greatest • Deliver over 500 new Apprenticeships for economic return and potential. Recognised young people nationally for the strength of our science based • Provide £95m of local and national public knowledge industries, we have an ambition to sector investment with a further £550m of be a global leader in ‘Big Science’. investment from housing providers vi | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

• Lever in nearly £600m of private sector the south, through Oxford, to Bicester in investment through site development, the north of the county - the Oxfordshire transport infrastructure, skills schemes, Knowledge Spine: and business support services and innovation centres • Science Vale Oxford – where we will build on its extensive research infrastructure • Create 18,600 new jobs and a further and the designation of Harwell as the 31,400 jobs during the construction phase home of the national Satellite Applications Our City Deal provides the immediate Catapult and the European Space Agency impetus for delivery in the short term, and and Enterprise Zone will be complemented by our bid through our • Bicester – where improved Strategic Economic Plan into Local Growth infrastructure, 28% population growth Funds to further accelerate delivery initially by 2016, and increased land availability to 2020 and to 2030 in the longer term and will unlock the potential for significant by our European Structural Investment Funds increases in employment growth and low Strategy. carbon development Aligned to our City Deal, our European • Oxford – where we will continue to invest Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) plan in developing the critical infrastructure sets out our proposals for the use of the c£20 necessary to realise the full potential of million European funds which have been its world-class education, research and earmarked for Oxfordshire for the 2014 to innovation that underpins our growth 2020 period. Whilst our focus is to increase economic Our ESIF delivery is designed to boost our growth centred around the largely urban ability to innovate, support business growth knowledge spine we are equally cognisant and job creation, and provide opportunities for of the significant contribution our rural and residents throughout the county to participate visitor economy makes to our economic in our high skills, high quality labour market, success and the unique quality of life on including measures specifically targeted on our offer in Oxfordshire. rural areas. Our global brand in heritage, rural It is within this context that this Strategic landscapes and academic excellence makes Economic Plan identifies and prioritises key us economically attractive to business and themes which will shape our future and, a sought after place to live, study, work through which, we will drive economic growth and visit. Oxford’s global profile, academic across the county and create the conditions excellence and the county’s unique necessary to underpin our long-term agglomeration of research facilities provides economic success. It sets out our priorities to an outstanding environment for inward 2030 and provides a framework to guide our investment and business growth in high activity, investment and collective resources, quality business locations across the region. focusing limited government resources on As a place to live, Oxfordshire has a wide areas of greatest economic impact which will ranging offer from the unique, globally permeate economic growth across the whole known city of Oxford, to strategically located of the county. market towns and rural villages set within Our Strategic Economic Plan focuses on our outstanding landscapes. priority localities of Science Vale Oxford in The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | vii

Tourism is strong and growing across such as the Oxford Green Belt Way and the county with impressive hospitality d’Arcy Dalton Way. The World Heritage City venues, beautiful countryside and the of Oxford set within Green Belt is an iconic World Heritage Site of Blenheim Palace. visitor attraction. Our cultural, heritage West Oxfordshire’s Cotswolds landscape and visitor attractions and internationally attracts significant investment with Forbes renowned events such as Henley Regatta magazine placing Burford as one of the most attract over 26 million visitors per year adding idyllic places to live in Europe. Oxford’s rich c£3.1bn to the local economy. historical heritage means that the city is a key world tourism destination, and Bicester Our approach to growth is focussed on the Village attracts a global market of over 5.8 Knowledge Spine and underpinned by our million high value visitors each year. high quality natural capital which delivers quality of life and supports our rural and Oxfordshire benefits from three Areas of visitor economy. This approach builds upon Outstanding Natural Beauty – the Cotswolds, our successful City Deal, is further supported North Wessex Downs and the Chilterns, It has through our ESIF delivery plan and is around 2,500 miles of public rights of way, founded upon our four thematic objectives: including the Thames path and Ridgeway National trails and other long-distance paths Innovative Enterprise Innovation led growth is at the heart of our strategy, underpinned by the strength of our University research and development capacity, business collaboration and supply chain potential.

Innovative People Delivering and attracting specialist and flexible skills at all levels, across all sectors, as required by our businesses, with full, inclusive employment and fulfilling jobs.

Innovative Place Providing both the quality environment and choice of homes needed to support smart growth whilst capitalising upon the exceptional quality of life, vibrant economy and the dynamic urban and rural communities of our county.

Innovative Connectivity Allowing people to move freely, connect easily and providing the services, environment and facilities needed by a The Oxfordshire Knowledge Spine dynamic, growing and dispersed economy. viii | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

If our goal is to be successful we need to Oxfordshire’s vision create the conditions that make Oxfordshire the location of choice for the world’s leading “By 2030 Oxfordshire will be science and technology businesses. We must encourage investor confidence by setting recognised as a vibrant, sustainable, out and delivering Oxfordshire’s long term inclusive, world leading economy, growth ambitions; aligning the agendas of driven by innovation, enterprise our different stakeholders and developing a culture that focuses on the benefits of pooling and research excellence.” resources to achieve a shared future of prosperity for all.

Together these have been used to develop Achieving our ambitions will result in delivery our Strategic Economic Plan, providing of our vision: the context in which specific issues can be “By 2030 Oxfordshire will be recognised addressed in order to unlock the county’s as a vibrant, sustainable, inclusive, world full economic potential and thus, continue to leading economy, driven by innovation, support the UK economy as it moves back into enterprise and research excellence.” sustained growth. Investment in Oxfordshire will further cement UK PLC’s ambition to be In achieving our vision we foresee an at the forefront of the ‘global economic race’ economy based on the continual cross bringing direct benefits to the country through fertilisation of ideas, investment and increased economic activity, productivity and application, which takes place within a innovation. business environment, and which is fully integrated with and supportive of its natural Oxfordshire is successful. Our employment environment. and housing growth is above the national trend. We make a positive net contribution We are aware that many other places make to the Exchequer as a result of our academic similar claims – which area does not want excellence, global brand and quality economic to grow, which area does not champion assets. But our economic output is not their special features, the excellence of growing as quickly as it might, largely due to their people and imagination of their infrastructure pressures easily attributable to entrepreneurs? Yet, few have the asset an already successful economy – congestion, base required to show what sustainable, housing supply and affordability, skills and innovation driven growth can really mean. labour availability and business costs. This is no small claim, and will be a major We could be much more economically task. Our vision will be achieved only by a successful if we can better translate our strategically astute focus on the elements academic excellence into wealth through which we have identified as of central research, technical development and export importance, and which have to be delivered of products and services. Oxfordshire can to time and budget and be of the highest become a world leader in the science and quality. knowledge economy. The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | ix

Our Strategic Economic Plan will: knowledge rich businesses and communities • Grow Oxfordshire’s world-class, c£815 million of highways technology clusters leading to a Gross • infrastructure improvements Value Added uplift of c£6.6 billion at constant prices • Over £500 million rail investment to unlock growth • Create 85,600 new jobs by 2031 (a 1% increase per annum) compared to 0.8% • Increase the amount of Skills Funding per annum achieved between 2001 and Agency funding that supports our 2011 STEM sectors by 15% to better reflect our economic profile • Fulfil our potential as an internationally renowned business, academic and • Increase the proportion of the working research centre to attract a minimum age population qualified to level 2 and of 30 new high value international above to 90% investments per year • Commitment to raising schools’ • Enable a step change in the delivery of attainment to support access to sufficient and sustainable quality housing apprenticeships and training that is affordable yet attractive to the • An additional 1,150 apprenticeships market, makes innovative use of blue for young people in our priority and and green infrastructure to enhance growth sectors our built and natural capital and deliver • Grow Oxfordshire’s Green Economy multiple benefits to our communities and Natural Capital through • A minimum of c£2.5 billion private sector the development of a Strategic investment Environmental Economic Plan Between 93,560 to 106,560 new homes • We have high ambition - Oxfordshire’s by 2031 political, business and community leaders • c£65 million investment to support - believe our county has the potential to Superfast (25mb/s +) and Ultrafast deliver a real a vision of the future where (100mb/s+) broadband speeds across human ingenuity delivers a better life for the county that support innovative all and an improving environment.

Local Growth Fund Proposition

Interim Outputs GVA to 2030 GVA to 2021

GVA Uplift 6,616,780,260 2,870,635,660 Jobs from construction (one-off) 159,172 69,074 Directly dependent jobs 8,953 8,297 Jobs created 168,125 77,371 Ask 678,335,000 678,335,000 Indicated funding 6,321,490,000 2,977,880,000 Capex 6,999,825,000 3,656,215,000 Multiplier £Funding : £1 Ask 9.32 4.39 £ Ask per job 8,767 8,767 Capex per job 90,471 47,256 Multiplier £GVA : £1 Ask 4.23 4.23 % Ask funding 9.70% 18.60% % Other Funding 90.30% 81.40% Talented individuals are also highly mobile, Boston and Oxford are both synonymous with excellent higher education, but relatively few graduates stay after graduating... The Economist Intelligence Unit, 2012

The Government has created the conditions for businesses to thrive...... Enterprise Zones are one of the best ways Oxford can entice new companies to the area. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles

Our industrial strategy is a key part of the Government’s economic plan and we’re helping to drive the car industry further and faster with over £4bn of investment. Prime Minister & MP for Witney David Cameron The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan: | 1

Contents

1. Introduction

2. Oxfordshire Today

Our Vision and Programme for Growth

3. Strategic Vision for Oxfordshire’s Economy to 2030

4. Our Programme for Growth

i) Countywide investment:

Innovative Enterprise

Innovative People

Innovative Place

Innovative Connectivity

ii) Bicester

iii) Oxford

iv) Science Vale

Developing and Delivering Our Programme for Growth

5. Our Bid for the Local Growth Fund

6. Development of Our Strategic Economic Plan

7. Governance and Management

8. Delivery, Managing Risk, Programme Evaluation 2 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

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lichfield M54 M6 leicester rutland M42 peterborough wolverhampton

M69 birmingham M6 Birmingham Airport A43 A1(M) coventry ely cambridgeshire M42 M45 northamptonshire worcetershire

M40 cambridge worcester warwickshire

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Banbury milton keynes M1 M11 A1(M) M5 bucks. bicester luton Stansted Airport BICESTER LOGISTICS Luton Airport gloucester A40 London Oxford Airport A41 hertfordshire st albans gloucestershire RAF BRIZE NORTON oxford Thame

Thames River A34 M40 essex

oxfordshire lep A40 M25 DEFENCE ACADEMY COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY science vale swindon Henley-on-Thames city of london London City Airport canary wharf M4 Heathrow Airport greater berkshire london

surrey M25 kent wiltshire A34 M3 M23 Gatwick Airport

salisbury hampshire

Southampton Airport east sussex M27 west sussex southampton M27 A3(M) dorset chichester brighton and hove portsmouth

bournemouth isle of wight Contains Ordnance Survey OpenData © Crown copyright and database rights 2010. Made with Natural Earth. Free vector and raster map data @ naturalearthdata.com. Cartography by Steer Davies Gleave 2014

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1. Introduction Oxfordshire’s Strategic Economic Plan

Sitting at the western axis of the UK’s (STFC) Rutherford Appleton Laboratory; ‘Golden Triangle’ (Oxford-London- Diamond Light Source, the national Cambridge), Oxfordshire has outstanding synchrotron facility; the Medical Research and unique ‘Big Science’ and technology- Council’s facilities at Harwell; the newly based credentials that drive economic established European Space Agency and the growth, locally, nationally and Satellite Applications Catapult Centre. internationally. The county is one of the best-performing and most innovative areas Together with Oxford’s global profile this in England and has unique assets to support provides an outstanding environment for growth in the national economy. foreign direct investment and businesses to spin out and grow in high quality business The University of Oxford is among the best locations across the region: Oxford’s science in the world, Oxford Brookes University is parks, Bicester, Science Vale, the Enterprise a top performing new university, and the Zone, and beyond. Defence Academy at Shrivenham provides post-graduate education to the tri-services But we have the potential to do much from home and abroad. Our universities more and increase our already positive and science institutes are pre-eminent in UK contribution to UK economic performance technology transfer. This globally renowned and finances and to position UK PLC at the academic cluster has spawned in excess forefront of global economic race. of 50 Nobel prizes and supports a unique Our Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) sets out grouping of ‘Big Science’ and other research our ambition and strategy for Oxfordshire facilities including the UK Atomic Energy to 2030. The overarching theme of the Authority Culham Centre for Fusion Energy; Plan is ‘Driving Economic Growth through the Science and Technology Facilities Council Innovation’, which focuses on our strong international proposition to exploit Oxfordshire facts: growth in science and our knowledge- rich sectors, supported by the premium • 660,800 people skillsets emanating from our universities. We have the ambition to grow our local • 380,600 jobs economy above trend focussing investment on the knowledge spine and on the • £15.5 billion a year commercialisation of our innovation and to national output knowledge rich assets.

• 45 businesses This SEP builds upon our City Deal, which per 1000 people was recently agreed with government. The City Deal allows us to put in place the initial infrastructure required to accelerate Oxfordshire’s economy, which will be enhanced and continued through implementation of the SEP. 4 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Structure of Our Submission and the Science Vale Oxford area centred around Didcot. We set out our strategic Our Strategic Economic Plan sets out our interventions across these four themes ambition and the basis against which we and then look at area-specific proposals in will negotiate our Local Growth Deal with our three core economic areas: Bicester, Government. Oxford and Science Vale Oxford. Our Local We set out the context for our Plan in Growth Fund bid is summarised in Section Section 2 where we review our strengths 5. Sections 6 through 8 outline how we have and opportunities as well as the current and undertaken the assessment of opportunities projected challenges facing our economy. and arrived at our bid proposal as well as Building from this, Section 3 sets out our how we plan to manage and deliver our vision for Oxfordshire across our four key ambitious plan. themes: Innovative Enterprise, Innovative Our Strategic Economic Plan has been Place, Innovative People and Innovative developed in collaboration with a wide Connectivity. These themes are underpinned range of partners across Oxfordshire. Letters by our delivery strategy centred on the of support for our plan are provided in ‘Oxfordshire Knowledge Spine’ – the focus Appendix A1. of increased economic growth around the largely urban centres of Bicester in the In developing our Strategic Economic Plan, north of the county, south into Oxford City a number of key assessments have been undertaken. Many of these provide the evidence base upon which our Strategic Economic Plan is based. A list of key documents in provided in Appendix A2. The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 5

2. Oxfordshire Today

There are six local authorities in Oxfordshire: parks, Bicester, Science Vale, the Enterprise Oxfordshire County Council, the Districts Zone, and beyond. of Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, West Oxfordshire, and Oxford This globally renowned academic cluster has City. Together the area is home to 660,800 spawned in excess of 50 Nobel prizes and residents and 29,245 businesses, employing supports a unique grouping of ‘Big Science’ 380,600 people producing a GVA per and other research facilities including the UK capita of £23,600, as well as a number of Atomic Energy Authority Culham Centre for strategically important assets, most notably Fusion Energy; the Science and Technology the Universities of Oxford, Oxford Brookes, Facilities Council Rutherford Appleton and the Defence Academy at Shrivenham, Laboratory; Diamond Light Source, the their associated research infrastructure, and national synchrotron facility; the Medical a number of globally significant business Research Council’s facilities at Harwell; the sectors. Taken together, Oxfordshire has newly established European Space Agency a diverse economic base with strengths and the Satellite Applications Catapult across a broad base of knowledge-intensive Centre. sectors: satellite and data tracking; These assets provide huge opportunities biomedical engineering; pharmaceuticals and resources to drive high tech business and advanced manufacturing, as well as growth. They have supported the medical software for managing healthcare development of many high tech firms technology and services. that now form an Oxfordshire technology cluster with outstanding strengths in four Our Strengths overlapping technologies5: Oxfordshire is one of the best-performing and most innovative areas in England and • Life science - bioscience/medical has unique assets to support growth in the technology/pharmaceuticals national economy. • Physics related specialisms including cryogenics (Europe’s largest cluster), Oxfordshire is asset rich – the University instruments and magnets of Oxford is amongst the best in the • Engineering and electronics, including world. Oxford Brookes University is a top- motorsport performing university, and the Defence Academy provides post-graduate education • Telecoms and computer hardware and to the tri-services from home and abroad. software Our universities and science institutes are Oxford is a unique and truly global brand, pre-eminent in UK technology transfer. known the world over for its academic Together with Oxford’s global profile, this excellence and historical significance. provides an outstanding environment Oxfordshire, and the UK’s ‘Golden Triangle’, for inward investment and businesses to competes internationally with Silicon spin out and grow in high quality business Valley and San Francisco, Boston and locations across the region: Oxford’s science Massachusetts, and greater Shanghai.

6 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Page 13

Oxfordshire’s Strategic Economic Assets The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 7

Over 85,000 new jobs projected to 2030

Internationally significant Life Sciences sector

Strong international inward investment offer and pipeline

The UK Harwell Oxford is at the heart of the growing Government’s international space cluster ‘eight great technologies’ Innovative People

Higher than average high skilled workforce Oxfordshire is uniquely placed by having Lowest Job Seekers Allowance claimant count of all significant presence and potential in sectors the LEP areas that are poised for growth. Government has identified ‘eight great technologies’: Above trend apprenticeship delivery big data, space, robotics, synthetic biology, Higher than national average economic activity rates regenerative medicine, advanced materials, agricultural technologies, and energy storage. Innovative Place Oxfordshire has a strong and growing capability in the first six ‘great technologies’. Major tourist destination with a growing visitor and cultural economy Our Strengths At the western axis of the UK’s ‘Golden Triangle’: Oxford-London-Cambridge Innovative Enterprise Attractive urban and rural housing and communities Global brand for academic excellence in and near Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Significant strengths in six of the ‘eight great A high quality of life attractive to knowledgerich technologies’ business investment

Net contributor to the Exchequer Innovative Connectivity Top 5 technology innovation ecosystems in the world Strategically located on the UK road and rail network International leader in the advanced engineering and manufacturing sector Ease of access to the two largest cities in the UK, London and Birmingham Largest concentration of multi-million dollar science research facilities in Europe clustered in and around Within an hour of London Heathrow - the UK’s and Science Vale Oxford Enterprise Zone Europe’s premier global hub airport 8 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

A Positive and Diverse Economy • Banking & finance and research (48,000 including 6,400 in Research & Oxfordshire is a significant regional economy, Development) contributing approximately £15.5 billion a year to national output1 and one of only • High technogoloy manufacturing, three areas that are positive contributors excluding ICT (43,000) to the Exchequer. The Gross Value Added • Education (41,200) (GVA) per capita for Oxfordshire is above • Retail (37,700) the national mean (£23,600 compared to • Health including social care (34,000) £21,3002). In 2011, Oxfordshire had the • Creative Industries (30,100) 6th highest GVA per capita of the 39 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). Oxfordshire • Tourism and visitor economy (24,000) also has a high business density per head of • Military (15,000) population; 45 businesses per 1000 people, • ICT (11,400) 3 which again is 6th of the 39 LEPs . Our latest • Agriculture and Rural (8,900 including business dashboard from quarter 4 2013 3,900 in agri-food processing) shows current and future activity levels in In 2012, the top two sectors in terms of Oxfordshire are expected to exceed England concentration were the manufacturing of growth rates. computers and peripheral equipment and book publishing, reflecting Oxford Brookes’

Oxfordshire 2013 Quarter 4 Business Dashboard The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 9

strength as home to the International Centre Oxfordshire’s economy benefits from a for Publishing Studies, one of the leading strong defence sector, including the defence academic institutes for publishing education logistics hub at Bicester the Defence and the largest university publishing Academy at Shrivenham, RAF Benson and department in Europe. Brize Norton – now the single air movement base for the military in the UK. Sectors increasing in concentration in the area include plastics, medical and dental With global headquarters and research instruments, postgraduate education and and development facilities for world research and experimental development on leading, high technology companies such as social sciences and humanities.At the heart Oxford Instruments, Siemens MR Magnet of ‘motorsport valley’ the county is home Technology, Sophos, RM plc, Infineum and to Formula One icons such as Williams and Sharp, Oxfordshire is providing state of the art Lotus, and emerging forces of Caterham facilities that are shaping the future economy. and Marussia. Our automotive sector is strengthened by the presence of BMW Mini Strategically Located and Prodrive. Oxfordshire is strategically located between Science Vale Oxford has one of the largest the two largest cities in the UK, London and concentrations of multi-million dollar science Birmingham, as well as between London research facilities in Europe. This includes Heathrow and Birmingham International the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus airports. where more than 4,500 people work on We are at the heart of the national road a range of science projects – from new network with the A34 providing a vital medicines to the exploration of space with strategic link between the Midlands, London the work of the European Space Agency. The and the south coast via the M40, M4 or M3. Diamond Synchrotron at Harwell can project Direct coach and bus connections run to light that is as much as 100 billion times central London. brighter than the sun while Harwell also houses ISIS, the world’s most powerful pulsed We are at the centre of the national rail neutron source. Over 60 high tech businesses network with mainline services to London are based at Milton Park while the Culham Paddington and London Marylebone. Oxford Science Centre is the home to the UK’s fusion railway station provides links to Worcester, research programme. Hereford, Banbury, Bicester and Birmingham to the north, whilst routes to the south serve connections to Bristol, South Wales, Southampton, Basingstoke, Reading and London. Chiltern Railways Evergreen 3 Agriculture & Rural Top 10 Banking/Research project will improve links to London, via employment High Tech Manufacturing Bicester, and the East West Rail project will Education provide further improved transport links Retail sectors in Health into Buckinghamshire and beyond. Oxford Oxfordshire Creative Industries sits at the heart of the significant rail freight Tourism & Visitors route between Southampton docks and Military ICT Birmingham. 10 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Oxfordshire’s strategic location supports access, connecting businesses with global the growth of BMW’s MINI plant in Oxford, markets. Currently dual mode access to with the company exporting vehicles to Heathrow is possible via Reading by train 110 countries from their Oxford base, using prior to onward travel by coach. transport links to Southampton Docks. We are fully supportive of the Western Rail The county has a large air transport need. Access to Heathrow scheme promoted by The Civil Aviation Authority identifies 2.1 Thames Valley Berkshire LEP which will million passengers travelling by air to/from benefit Oxfordshire by: Oxfordshire mostly through Birmingham Up to 30 minute journey time reduction International and London Heathrow airports. • We have close strategic links to international • 250,000 additional passengers networks via London Heathrow, Europe’s • Up to 75,000 fewer car journeys premier global hub airport, which is • Up to 6,000 jobs created fundamental to competing in international • Up to £30 million Gross Value Added markets. Oxfordshire’s close proximity to Heathrow makes it a great place to do London Oxford is a successful business business. Direct, western rail access to aviation airport and has every opportunity to Heathrow will provide faster and reliable develop to achieve the status of a successful

birmingham M1 Contains Ordnance Survey OpenData © Crown copyright and database rights 2010. M6 A1(M) Made with Natural Earth. Free vector and raster map data @ naturalearthdata.com. Birmingham Airport Cartography by Steer Davies Gleave 2014 M42 coventry ely N 0 km 10 20 30 40 50 km M42

cambridge worcester

A43

Banbury milton keynes A44 M40 M1 M11 Chipping Norton

M5 Bicester luton Luton City Airport Stanted City Airport gloucester A40 Woodstock A1(M) London Oxford Airport A41

Witney oxford st albans Thame

A419 Abbingdon A420 A40 Wallingford M40 Wantage M25 swindon Didcot Henley-on- A40 M4 Thames city of london London City Airport Reading Heathrow Airport canary wharf M4 bath M2 A34 M25 M20 M3 M23 Gatwick Airport

winchester salisbury

M27 Southampton Airport southampton A3(M) M27 chichester brighton and hove portsmouth Figure 5: Oxfordshire’s Strategic Transport Network The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 11

niche regional airport. The strategy for the Press, supports more than 16,500 jobs and next phase of its development, subject to contributes £750 million annually to the gaining planning consent, is to deliver a regional economy. Total research income for core of scheduled air services to identified 2011/12 totalled £538 million. Of this £129 destinations focussed on corporate business million was received in Higher Education travel satisfying the needs of the established Funding Council for England (HEFCE) businesses and acting as a catalyst for new research funding, and £409 million from businesses. externally funded grants and contracts.

London Oxford has the ability, capacity and The University of Oxford is central airside infrastructure to accommodate the to technology and knowledge-based future strategy of a niche regional airport. development in the county. It is one of Domestic and near European scheduled air the world’s leading universities, with an services destinations are targeted (radius 90 outstanding depth and breadth of research minute flying time from Oxford). Typically and a global perspective. Oxford’s research Edinburgh, Belfast, Dublin, Amsterdam activity involves more than 70 departments, and Paris feature in the most demanded the colleges, more than 1,600 academic top 10 destinations. Each top 10 route staff, more than 4,100 research and research has a passenger potential of more than support staff, and more than 5,500 graduate 50,000 passenger sectors per annum for research students. Oxfordshire. Oxford Brookes University has established itself as one of the leading new universities. A Global Centre of Academic Expertise It has nearly 18,000 students, has an annual Oxford is the oldest university in the expenditure of more than £159 million and English-speaking world and currently has contributes over £1m per day to the UK more than 22,000 students. The University, economy4. Oxford Brookes complements the including the colleges and Oxford University University of Oxford with a greater emphasis on high level training and applied research.

The Defence Academy headquarters in Oxford Brookes Shrivenham is responsible for post-graduate University is education and the majority of command, one of the few staff, leadership, defence management, universities acquisition and technology training for members of the UK Armed Forces and worldwide that Ministry of Defence Civil Servants. makes over Our global brand, academic excellence £1m per year and quality of life fuel a healthy inward from a single investment pipeline with over 90 enquiries patent (Downs received year to date, which originate from a variety of sources including UKTI, syndrome test) University collaborations, direct and via other stakeholders. 12 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Science Vale Oxford Enterprise Zone investment service jointly supported by the County Council, Oxford University and the Science Vale Oxford Enterprise Zone is a global LEP which has focussed its activities on those hotspot for enterprise and innovation in sectors where Oxfordshire competes globally science, high technology and the application for internationally mobile investment. of knowledge.

The Science Vale Oxford area is already one 30 25

of the most successful science hotspots 20

in the country with 13% of research and 15 development employment in South East 10 5

England. Number of Enquiries 0 Businesses benefit from a range of offers including: • Business rates discount of up to £55,000 per annum for five years Life Sciences • Simplified planning to speed up the Oxfordshire has one of the largest bio design and build process clusters in Europe with the University of • Superfast broadband Oxford’s Medical Sciences Division receiving • Support to relocate and recruit staff more than 60% of the University’s external research income. Oxford is a world-leader Attracting Foreign Direct Investment: in the development of treatments in a A Focussed Offer range of clinical areas, including diabetes and is pioneering work to speed up the Attracting Foreign Direct Investment is led by drug discovery process through renowned Invest in Oxfordshire, a collaborative inward centres such as the Structural Genomics Consortium.

Oxfordshire’s Biotech Centres The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 13

Sub-sector strengths lie in diabetes and The European Space Agency is currently Alzheimers with the University of Oxford building their European Centre for Space having specialist resources in these areas Applications and Telecommunications supporting a growing concentration of (ECSAT) on the Harwell Oxford Campus companies in these fields. Both conditions which will be ready in 2015 - further affect an increasing number of individuals embedding Harwell Oxford at the heart globally with many companies investing of the UK and European space sector. heavily in research and development to seek Harwell Oxford is also home to the Satellite sustainable and viable remedies. Applications Catapult which supports companies utilise data derived from space Oxfordshire is at the centre of funding develop new products and services. This into the Life Sciences sector, including is a significant growth area with recent strong networks for private capital and investment successes from US and Spain. also Government-backed research grants. This includes £90 million from the NHS to Creative/Media/Big Data translate biomedical research into clinical research to help in the adoption of new With the rise of inter-connected media and technologies, techniques and treatments. the ever-growing demand for information Oxfordshire is well-placed to service Space and Satellite Applications companies that supply into these different media and who require ‘super-computing’ Harwell Oxford is the Gateway to the UK’s capabilities to process data. space industry, both in upstream and downstream technologies. RAL Space, The Oxford Technology Media and Finance Europe’s largest non-private space research Network supports over 300 senior industry team, manufactures and tests components figures to collaborate and promote Oxfordshire used in space missions and has a strong internationally. Members such as Vicon track record globally across a spectrum of developed the motion capture technology stakeholders including NASA. used in the Oscar winning film Gravity, while others such as Natural Motion were recently acquired by Zynga for $527 million.

Working with UKTI We continue to work closely with industry and academia to ensure our ‘offer’ supports the growth aspirations of companies, alongside the overseas UKTI network to assist in the promotion of our unique assets. This includes a range of world-leading research groups across both our Universities as well as facilities such as the UK’s national synchrotron at Harwell Oxford. Copyright: Oxford University We have hosted numerous inward missions Drug Discovery - Screening in Biological from UKTI sector leads including those Cells in Oxford University covering life sciences, space and engineering. 14 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

A tour of global UKTI sector leads for life sciences is scheduled for March 2014 and Bioscience/ medical tech/ staff from the Life Sciences Investment pharmaceuticals Organisation have visited on many occasions.

When visiting trade events overseas Invest in Telecomms, Physics related Oxfordshire engages with the relevant UKTI computer High Tech – cryogenics, ‘Posts’ and presents the up-to-date offer to hardware and Oxfordshire instruments software and magnets staff, an example of which is a recent visit to the Boston UKTI office during attendance at

the US Bio Convention. Engineering and electronics – including motorsport Supporting Our Existing Company Base – Aftercare Invest in Oxfordshire spends a considerable amount of time with partners to develop a High Tech Oxfordshire: Core co-ordinated account management aftercare Overlapping Technologies5 programme to ensure we are effectively supporting our existing company base, Group. The group is developing promotional especially high growth potential companies material to be utilised by UKTI on behalf of in our core sectors. Successes through six LEPs that form the backbone of the UK’s this activity include the expansion of SS high performance engineering base. It will Tube Technology as they diversify from be launched at a technology showcase event motorsport into the likes of aerospace and in the run up to the British Grand Prix in July. the energy industry. A High Technology Economy In addition, Element Six who were supported by UKTI to locate on the Science Vale Oxford Oxfordshire is amongst the top five Enterprise Zone, were assisted in their RGF technology innovation ecosystems in the application which yielded an award of over world, home to an impressive knowledge- £1 million to support further expansion. intensive cluster, with 1,500 high tech firms employing around 43,000 people. The Partnership Working cluster has outstanding strengths in four overlapping technologies5. Oxfordshire’s City Deal has facilitated the joint working of numerous partners across Oxfordshire is an international leader in the the County and led to investment in critical advanced engineering and manufacturing infrastructure that supports our offer, such sector, especially in automotives and as new incubator space and transport motorsport. The county is at the heart infrastructure improvements to improve of ‘Motorsport Valley’ with four Formula connectivity and accessibility. 1 teams based in the county: Lotus F1, Williams F1, Caterham F1 and Marussia F1. We are also working jointly with This hub of motorsport activity is supported neighbouring LEPs in key sectors such as by 4,000 high performance engineering the promotion of our globally significant companies employing close to 40,000 high performance engineering base via the people in the area. cross-LEP High Performance Technology The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 15

Case Study: Oxfordshire; Leading Global Life Sciences, University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes

The University of Oxford is one of the Oxford Brookes specialises in the largest biomedical research centres training of nurses and other healthcare in Europe with 2,500 staff and 800 professionals and hosts research groups postgraduate students involved in medical on topics including movement science research. The Medical Sciences Division and rehabilitation, human nutrition and of the University brings in 66% of the psychology. Oxford Brookes is a partner in University’s external research income. the Academic Health Science Centre for Oxford and a member of the Academic The creation of the Oxford University Health Science Network (AHSN). Hospital Trust and the ranking of Oxford University’s medical school as No.1 in the The Oxford AHSN covers a population of world places Oxfordshire at the centre some three million people and includes of the largest and fastest growing bio- all NHS providers, private healthcare tech cluster in the UK and builds on the providers, Clinical Commissioning sector’s success in attracting 20% of all Groups, universities, county and district UK bioscience investment since 2008 councils, the local National Institute for spawning 168 new companies. Health Research (NIHR) infrastructure, third sector bodies and charities and The University of Oxford is ranked first a significant and increasing number of in the world in clinical, pre-clinical and partners from the Network’s renowned life health and has 23 Nobel Prize Winners in science business ecosystem and beyond. medicine and chemistry. The University of Oxford has developed innovative ways The Science Vale Oxford Enterprise Zone in of working in partnership with industry to Oxfordshire, covering Milton Park, Harwell help improve the process of drug discovery Oxford and the Oxford Science Park are and development such as the formation of home to numerous spin-outs from the the Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) Universities and international companies and the new Target Discovery Institute. covering US, Europe and Asia. Examples include Adapt Immune (US), Amgen (US), Over £1.2 billion has been invested in Vertex Pharmaceuticals (US), Evotec biomedical academic research in Oxford (Germany), Proteros (Germany) and WuXi over the last five years, with companies PharmTech (China). taking advantage of specialist facilities and world-leading expertise. Oxfordshire is unique in offering clinical understanding, research, development expertise, and in . patient implementation - a truly bench to bedside environment. Nowhere else will you find such a balanced, triangular powerhouse of academia, research and industry. 16 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Car manufacturing in Oxford is well Epicentre of Research and Innovation established and growing. The city is home Our internationally unique proximity of to BMW Mini and over five million cars have technology clusters, university research been sold worldwide since the Mini car was programmes and high-technology first conceived. In 2011, parent company businesses stimulate significant business BMW announced a further £500 million spin-outs and growth opportunities. The investment in the car plant in Oxford, taking close proximity of these economic assets the total invested in the past ten years to provides major opportunities to expand £1.5 billion. BMW recently announced a university and business interaction for further £750 million investment that will the existing business base, by converting fund the creation of an additional 700 jobs knowledge to wealth. locally. Multiple world leading high technology Another well-known, international brand companies choose Oxfordshire to base in Oxfordshire is Prodrive. This automotive their global headquarters and research engineering consultancy firm designs, builds and development facilities. These include and runs motorsport and vehicle technology Oxford Instruments, Siemens MR Magnet programmes for vehicle manufacturers. Technology, Sophos, RM plc, Infineum and Their specialist manufacturing operation Sharp. The county has become a hotbed also works with the motor, aerospace, for research and development businesses, defence, marine and other high tech sectors which has produced an economy of scale to produce machined, fabricated and through state of the art facilities and a composite parts. common labour pool.

Science Vale Oxford has one of the largest concentrations of multi-million dollar science research facilities in Europe. This includes the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus where more than 4,500 people work on over 150 high-tech organisations. The Diamond Synchrotron is one of the most advanced scientific facilities in the world, and its pioneering capabilities are helping to keep the UK at the forefront of scientific research. The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 17

Case Study: Supporting The Global Pipeline; Automotive and Motorsport Technologies, Oxford Brookes University

A key requirement of motorsport and Oxford Brookes Graduates at on-road vehicles is a flow of talented Lotus F1 people. Oxford Brookes University offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate Oxford Brookes further supports the sector and higher degrees in automotive and by undertaking significant consultancy motorsport technologies in a £9 million activity for motorsport and road going purpose-built engineering centre. Original Equipment Manufacturers. Areas of work include composite analysis for Automotive Laboratory at Oxford companies such as Bentley and electric vehicle development for BMW. Materials Brookes University recovery and ‘End-of-Life’ are also Approximately 750 students are on degree growing consultancy areas, as are engine and postgraduate courses in-house at any optimisation, performance testing, noise one time. The courses have significant and vibration analysis and emissions industry input with involvement from high assessment. The University of Oxford’s profile teams such as Lotus F1. Internal Combustion Engineering Group also has good links with industry, with research projects conducted for clients such as Jaguar Land Rover.

. 18 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Case Study: Winning The Global Race; Cryogenics, University of Oxford and Harwell Oxford

Oxfordshire’s significant research facilities Cryogenics is an all-enabling technology have spawned the highest concentration that integrates with many other sectors of cryogenic activity in Europe, with of Oxfordshire, the UK, and international companies such as AS Scientific, ICE economy, including manufacturing, Oxford, Oxford Instruments, Scientific life sciences, space, ICT and energy. Magnetics and Thames Cryogenics. Oxfordshire’s cryogenic community can Oxfordshire also hosts Siemens Magnet be relied on to play a key role in the Technology, who manufacture more application of new technologies and are superconducting magnets for MRI investing in skills development locally to scanners than anywhere else in the world. support this activity.

The roots of this world-class cluster lie in the pioneering work carried out at the Clarendon Laboratory in the Department of Physics at the University of Oxford, which also resulted in the very first University of Oxford spin-out, Oxford Instruments. In addition, the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory at Harwell Oxford has a specialist Cryogenics Group that works alongside an Advanced Materials Group.

The cluster is supported by finely tuned infrastructure including cryogenic piping contractors, logistics experts familiar with shipping superconducting magnets all over the world and suppliers of liquid helium and other cryogenic media.

Oxfordshire companies form the backbone of the British Cryogenics Council. There are a growing number of international members from across Europe, North America and the Middle East, including Siemens and Sumitomo. The British Cryogenics Council provides an introductory point for international investors in the sector. The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 19

An International Visitor Destination The Oxfordshire retail offering is expansive, and expanding. Bicester Village had 5.8 Oxfordshire is one of Britain’s best known million visitors in 2012. 65% of visitors are and most visited destinations with an tourists with 30% of these high wealth internationally renowned visitor and cultural visitors coming from non-EU countries. offer. The iconic dreamy spires of Oxford, Bicester Village is one of the most popular the quintessentially English countryside of destinations for Chinese visitors to Britain. the Cotswolds and Thames Valley, and the The £400 million Westgate redevelopment popular attractions of Blenheim Palace, a in Oxford will add 72,400 sq.m to the City’s UNESCO world heritage site, and Bicester retail offer and create over 3,500 full-time- Village for high end shopping, attracts equivalent jobs. visitors from across the world. Oxfordshire draws in excess of 26m million visitor trips Oxfordshire benefits from three Areas of per year6. Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) – the Cotswolds, North Wessex Downs and the It is estimated that Oxfordshire’s cultural, Chilterns. The natural and built assets of the visitor and heritage economy is worth Cotswold AONB suggests that around £260 around £3.1 billion per year. Organisers million of Gross Value Added (GVA) (13% of of meetings, conferences and events are AONB total) and 7,500 jobs (14% of AONB attracted to Oxfordshire not only because total) are ‘critically dependent’ on the high it is an extraordinary place to visit, but also quality environment and landscape of the because of our international reputation for AONB. The total turnover of businesses scientific and academic excellence, and our in the Cotswolds AONB is estimated to be first rate facilities. around £5 billion7. The total value of this economic activity in the AONB, measured as GVA, is estimated to be around £2 billion. 20 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Quality of Life and are important economic centres for the county and neighbouring areas. Oxfordshire’s high quality natural environment makes the county an attractive The county has a wealth of natural and built place to live and work, providing health heritage assets including Blenheim Palace, and well-being benefits to communities as a UNESCO world heritage site, and seven well as direct economic benefits through Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). The agriculture, tourism and leisure. SACs are distributed across the county and form part of a wider ecological network Oxfordshire is largely rural in character. Over of 36 Conservation Target Areas (CTAs), 70% of Oxfordshire’s diverse landscape is along with many of the 111 Sites of Special farmland, which has an agricultural GVA of Scientific Interest (SSSI) and 472 Local £91 million per year. Wildlife Sites. Parts of nine Natural Character Our county has a number of historic market Areas (NCAs) fall within Oxfordshire’s towns as well as a large area with relatively county boundary, reflecting its great range dispersed populations. Over one third of of landscape types. The presence of three Oxfordshire’s employment is located in AONBs is indicative of the high quality of the City of Oxford but over half of Oxford’s Oxfordshire’s landscape. Taken together workforce is drawn from outside the city, the three designated landscapes comprise mainly from the rest of the county with 25.6% of Oxfordshire, (Chilterns 9.6%, Oxfordshire’s market towns accommodating Cotswolds 9.4% and North Wessex Downs 45% of Oxfordshire’s population. As such, the 6.6%). They were designated for their market towns offer significant business and landscape beauty and are of equal landscape retail space (46% of the county’s businesses) status to National Parks. The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 21

Employment and Skills 4,700 residents8. The numbers of Job Seekers Allowance claimants in the county is Oxfordshire starts from a strong position in at the lowest since 2008 and remains below relation to skills. In 2012, 197,900 people the regional and national averages. were qualified at NVQ4 and above, which is 47% of residents aged 16-64 and the For an area rich in science and technology, second highest rate among the 39 LEPs (only with huge growth potential, it is essential the London LEP area showed a stronger that we broaden the appeal of science based performance). At the same time, the share employment and increase the investment of the population without qualifications is into the sector. Currently less than 5% low. 36,300 people – 8.7% of residents – of existing Skills Funding Agency budget had no qualifications in 2012, a proportion invested in the county supports science, which has fallen over the last decade. This technology, engineering and mathematics is significantly below the national average (STEM) delivery across the Further Education (9.5% for England), although only the 13th sector. best performance among LEPs. Oxfordshire’s 2013 GCSE results are Only 69,500 residents – 16.4% of working slightly ahead of the national average. The age people – were economically inactive proportion of Oxfordshire GCSE students between April 2012 and March 2013, a far achieving at least five A*- C grades including lower proportion than the national average English and Maths is at its highest ever (22.7%). A relatively high share of economic level with 60.3% of students achieving the inactivity is accounted for by students benchmark – up 2.4% on the previous year, and retired people, meaning there is little the biggest margin of improvement since ‘hidden’ unemployment compared to other 2010. The proportion of GCSE students parts of the country. Economic inactivity is making ‘expected levels of progress’ – highest in Oxford City. another key measure – in English has also increased by 5.1% to 70.3%, whilst the figure Oxfordshire has a low rate of Job Seekers for maths rose by 0.1% to 70.9%. Allowance claimants – 1.1%, fewer than

Great Britain 2.9% South East 1.8% Oxfordshire 1.1%

5%

4%

3%

2%

1%

0% 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Job Seekers Allowance Claimant Trends in Oxfordshire, the South East and Great Britain (Dec 2013) 22 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Our Opportunities Innovative Place Oxfordshire has significant opportunities for economic growth based on the Economic assets attractive to the international commercialisation of world class academia, labour force that has a choice of where to work unrivalled ‘Big Science’ and a quality of life A globally renowned visitor and cultural economy that is second to none –a shared innovation led growth narrative. Manage flood risk to release land for housing and employment Growth in Oxfordshire will significantly contribute to economic prosperity on Innovative Connectivity a national scale, with increased growth leading to increased GVA, productivity and Maximise the opportunity presented by c£65 million additional income to the Exchequer. investment in enhanced broadband connectivity

Over £500 million rail investment to unlock growth Innovative Enterprise £716 million highways investment to unlock growth Strong and growing capability in six of the ‘great and better connect planned housing growth to technologies’ employment sites

Internationally unique proximity of technology Converting Knowledge to Wealth clusters, university research programs and high- technology businesses to stimulate significant Oxfordshire is an epicentre of technology business spin-outs and growth opportunities clusters, university research programmes and high-technology businesses. The UK expertise in innovation based technologies and new approaches to green (environmental) and blue close proximity of these economic assets (water use) management with significant growth provides major opportunities to expand potential university and business interaction. Closer links between academic research excellence Innovative People and entrepreneurs can stimulate significant business spin-outs and growth opportunities Improve retention of graduates within the local for the existing business base, by converting economy both as employees, and as new business knowledge to wealth. owners The University of Oxford received over £39 Maximise the levers of growth to offer a range of million industry funding in 2010/2011which is employment opportunities to all who are able to 9 participate in our labour market the highest in the UK . In 2010/11 there were 235 spin-outs from the University still active, High value, higher paid employment opportunities 183 of which were established by graduates.

Oxford generated the highest number of spin-outs from any UK university in the Academic Product and 10 Research three years from 2010 to 2012 . However, excellence Services links with local firms tend to decline as they grow. There is an opportunity to more actively maintain these networks which Access to ideas, Access to skills, Access to ideas, would benefit the high-tech innovation and intellect, networks, facilities, markets, intellect, networks skills, facilities commerce business community. The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 23

Case Study: At the Heart of Global Space Related Technologies, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus

Harwell Oxford Science and Innovation The Centre provides up to 10 start-up Campus is the UK home of space companies per year with an intensive collaborations. It is the location of the package of technical expertise and European Space Agency’s UK Research business support including a £41,500 Centre and the Satellite Applications grant to develop their product, fully- Catapult; a Technology Strategy Board equipped office space, easy access to part-funded initiative providing the Science & Technology Facilities Council expertise and facilities to develop new and European Space Agency’s technical satellite-based products and services. This expertise, intellectual property and brings together the best of the British facilities, business support advice, and space sector, industry and academia in help accessing sources of venture capital collaboration with international partners funding. to facilitate the commercialisation of space research.

The Science & Technology Facilities Council’s space research and development department, RAL Space, possesses a unique combination of science and engineering expertise, laboratories and testing facilities and has been working in this field for 50 years, including with the European Space Agency and NASA. It focuses on applications in space and undertakes world-leading space research and technology development, provides space test and ground-based facilities, designs and builds instruments, analyses and processes data and operates S-band and X-band ground-station facilities, as well as leading conceptual studies for future missions.

The European Space Agency’s Business Incubation Centre Harwell supports innovative entrepreneurs and high-tech Small and Medium Enterprises as they utilise space research to develop new businesses around non-space applications. 24 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

At the Heart of the Global by 8.5% to 2020, alongside the demand for Technology Race better management and leadership training. Oxfordshire is uniquely placed by having FAI Farms operates from the old University significant presence and potential in sectors of Oxford farm, and combines innovation that are poised for growth. The Government in research on agricultural techniques has identified ‘eight great technologies’: and methods alongside education big data, space, robotics, synthetic biology, and consultancy. The business has an regenerative medicine, advanced materials, increasingly global reach and reputation for agricultural technologies, and energy demonstrating UK expertise in a sector with storage11. Oxfordshire has a strong and significant growth potential in the global growing capability in the first six ‘great food market. technologies’. Oxfordshire has a growing number of New jobs and new skills are likely to be environmental and land based bodies generated in the space and other science rich making important contributions through sectors. The UK space sector is predicted to research and demonstration, such as the grow by 100,000 jobs nationally to 203012 UK’s Centre of Excellence for integrated with approximately 10,000 jobs predicted research The Centre for Ecology and locally centred around the internationally Hydrology; the Global Canopy Programme - renowned space cluster at Harwell Oxford – a tropical forest think-tank based in Oxford which is becoming recognised as the ‘gateway working through multidisciplinary networks to the UK space sector’. worldwide; and the Freshwater Habitats Trust who are working with land-owners Growing our Green Innovation locally to assess the best options for flood management, and for minimising the effects Oxfordshire is home to initiatives of polluted floodwater on freshwater and championing new approaches to green riverside habitats. (environmental) and blue (water use) management, spurred by both the Capitalising on Our Graduates county’s natural environment assets and its pressures, for example propensity to With one of the leading universities in flooding. The strength of innovation from the world, and a high-performing new emerging methods such as catchment area university there are significant opportunities management, innovative renewables and to retain graduates within the local sustainable exploitation of natural resources economy both as employees, and as positions this sector well for both generic new business owners, providing growing innovation support, as well as specific low levels of entrepreneurship, leadership and carbon programmes. management qualifications.

A review of all economic sectors indicates Growing Tourism a growing demand for skills in the context Forecasts suggest that the visitor economy of the green economy. These skills are at should grow by £155 million a year to 2025 all levels and of many types including those creating a further 2,864 jobs15. Located supporting resource efficiency, the low between London and Birmingham, we are carbon industry, climate resilience and skills well connected and perfectly positioned to to manage natural assets13. Employment in attract visitors arriving into their airports. our agriculture sector is predicted to grow14 The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 25

Case Study: Nurturing talent and the environment, innovation through enterprise, people and place with the Earth Trust

Oxfordshire is renowned for its innovative The Trust innovates through thinking and nowhere is this more in environmental learning and more than evidence than at the Earth Trust. This 3,000 school children and 10,000 people Oxfordshire based environmental learning of all ages and backgrounds benefit charity is all about new ways of working, annually. Through building confidence, encouraging enterprise, enhancing skills developing STEM skills and providing a and engaging people as we strive to look foundation for applying core skills, the after the environment. Trust’s learning initiatives contribute to and support business growth. Special places and learning Wonderful places such as the Wittenham Applied research Clumps SAC Nature Reserve close to Working with private businesses, forestry Science Vale Oxford are exemplars for industry and Oxford University the Earth biodiversity as well as attracting visitors Trust is leading research work to identify and tourists. With more than 150,000 and bring to market hardwood trees that visits made to this special place annually will be resilient to climate changes and this heritage site is the most visited, free provide economically viable tree crops for to access place in the county and makes future generations. Oxfordshire an attractive location to live and work with significant benefit to Significant and potentially damaging people’s quality of life. pests and diseases such as ash dieback could become more prevalent. Using the The Earth Trust Farm aims to illustrate the scientific studies and methodologies, balancing of food productivity, healthy resistance in trees are being studied by the habitats for wildlife and flood alleviation. Trust, University and Government partners Many innovations in habitat management for long term use in the forestry industry. originated from this farm – from beetle banks to wildflower margins – and the Trust is supporting local businesses and communities producing local food.

The Trust innovates through environmental learning and more than 3,000 school children and 10,000 people of all ages and backgrounds benefit annually. Through building confidence, developing STEM skills and providing a foundation for applying core skills, the Trust’s learning initiatives contribute to and support business growth. 26 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Case Study: Sigmavision Ltd, Weston-on-the-Green

Sigmavision Ltd. is a UK designer and manufacturer Operating from the company’s ISO 9001:2008 of laser vision systems with core markets in the tyre registered manufacturing facility in Oxford, UK and via a manufacturing and tyre aftermarket sectors. The network of OE, sales and service partners, Sigmavision company designs, assembles and supplies a full range is able to support a global market, with a £2.5 billion of laser and LED based sensors and systems, with task- market for TreadReader alone. specific software for inspection, measurement and control applications, and a particular focus on the tyre Following a successful demonstration of the and rubber industry. The company’s industrial solutions TreadReader technology, an exclusive supply agreement enable material convertors and rubber and tyre in the passenger car sector was signed in September manufacturers to improve process capability, eliminate 2012 with Hunter Engineering Company - a leading and waste and maximise bottom line benefits. global garage equipment manufacturer headquartered in the USA. The contract is valued at £6 million sales to TreadReader from Sigmavision Ltd is a laser be generated over the next three years. measurement technology specifically developed for measuring tyre wear in service. Compact and low cost With the drive over ramp now entering production, laser sensors are able to generate 3D tyre scans and further interest is developing rapidly in other markets can be configured as a portable hand held scanner or where TreadReader can provide a superior and faster a surface mounted drive over ramp. TreadReader is solution to manual tyre measurement. These include protected by worldwide patent applications. significant and global opportunities in commecial fleet management, retail and vehicle compliance sectors. TreadReader product and service propositions are targeted at fleet operators, tyre maintenance providers, To mark the launch of TreadReader, John Howell garages, workshops, and car dealerships to improve tyre MP formally opened a new manufacturing facility at measurement by reducing fuel consumption and CO2 Sigmavision’s offices on 7th February 2014. emissions and improve road safety. In 2012 there were 1,100 casualties and 194 deaths on British roads due to defective tyres and over 9,000 convictions for illegal tyres.

TreadReader identifies badly worn or unevenly worn tyres that need replacing, and helps early detection of vehicle problems such as wheel misalignment that adversely affect tyre wear.

To mark the launch of TreadReader, John Howell MP formally opened a new manufacturing facility at Sigmavision’s offices on 7th February 2014. This facility will expand rapidly over the next three years to provide a boost to the local economy and employment for more than 100 people. The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 27

During this period Oxford’s retail offer will We already have commitment to a number receive substantial investment, as will its of strategically important schemes which connectivity to London enhancing our will be delivered in the short term including attractiveness. Developments of this kind over £500 million of rail investment to add to the case for new business investment, unlock growth. We need to maximise the whether it is to address our under-supply of opportunities this strategic investment accommodation, cater for the needs of high presents including maximising the value visitors from China and other emerging opportunity presented by around £65 economies, or service the county’s growing million investment in enhanced broadband business sector. connectivity and over £716 million highways investment identified to unlock growth and Oxfordshire is superbly placed to capitalise on better connect planned housing growth to Britain’s forecast 9.9% value increase in the employment sites. tourism by 2025, perhaps even to exceed it. Investment in a direct connection to London Enhancing Our Competitive Heathrow Airport is a significant opportunity Advantage for the economy of Oxfordshire. We are Oxfordshire has some very strong economic fully supportive of the Western Rail Access assets and attractions. The universities to Heathrow scheme promoted by Thames and research institutes in the county are Valley Berkshire LEP which will benefit outstanding internationally, and Science Oxfordshire by achieving: Vale Oxford Enterprise Zone provides sites Up to a 30 minute journey time reduction with pre-approved planning permission to • new businesses that want to locate in the • 250,000 additional passengers area and business rate incentives to firms to • Up to 75,000 fewer car journeys invest within one of Europe most knowledge • Up to 6,000 jobs created intensive clusters. Oxfordshire’s markets and • Up to £30m GVA high value focus for growth make the county attractive to a skilled, mobile labour force We also have commitment to Oxford Science that has a choice of where to live and work. Transit which underpins our long term plan for public transport, linking planned and future Transport Investment Commitment investment in rail, bus, and smart solutions to deliver a seamless customer orientated In Oxfordshire we have: transport system. This is essential to provide the capacity from future demands for trip • The highest level of bus usage outside of movements that planned growth and the London boosted growth the SEP will help to achieve. • The newest bus fleet in the country – with the majority of buses using hybrid These schemes and the ambitious vision for technology – Oxford‘s Low Emission Zone Oxfordshire’s future connectivity will provide has helped to drive innovation adoption a platform to which businesses can invest in in this field Oxfordshire with confidence. • Strong partnership working with the public transport operators – both bus and rail – who understand the scale of our growth ambition and see this as an opportunity for investment 28 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Strategic Transport Investment City Deal/LTP funded schemes Pinch Point funded schemes Rail industry East West Rail M40 J10 to Bedford and Milton Keynes Chipping Norton

BicesterBicester A44

CharlburyCharlbury M40 J9

WoodstockWoodstock A34

KidlingtonKidlington

A-40 - A44 Oxford Parkway Link Road M40 Cutteslowe Roundabout Chiltern Railways WitneyWitney to London Marylebone A40 Northern Gateway Internal Access Road Wolvercote Roundabout CartertonCarterton oxford A40

A4142 Hinksey Hill Interchange

A420 AbingdonAbingdon

A34 FaringdonFaringdon

Milton Interchange

Featherbed Lane Wantage Eastern DidcotDidcot Link Road WallingfordWallingford A417 Access to Harwell WantageWantage Phase 1

Chilton Interchange

Contains Ordnance Survey OpenData © Crown copyright and database rights 2010. Made with Natural Earth. Free vector and raster map data @ naturalearthdata.com. Cartography by Steer Davies Gleave 2014 N A34 0 m 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 m

Committed Transport Schemes The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 29

Our Challenges Innovative People The Oxfordshire Engine Innovation Report commissioned by Science Oxfordshire Mismatch of skills with current and projected showed that although Oxfordshire has a employment strong economy, growth between 1997 and Labour market competition - retaining graduate 2011 was an estimated £500 million lower talent than would have been expected given its potential to turn scientific research into A ‘tight’ labour market with pockets of business opportunities. There are multiple unemployment reasons for this, and a number of inter- Low growth in working age population projections - linked factors and challenges need to be rapidly ageing population addressed for the LEP to realise its growth Increasing the attractiveness of apprenticeships as a ambitions. viable career option

Innovative Enterprise Innovative Place

Low business formation and growth in the number of Housing affordability businesses Four major flood incidents in the past decade Too few businesses trading internationally impacting on businesses and communities

Knowledge economy currently relies on fragmented Reliance on private sector land owners to bring and informal collaborative networks forward development

Poor accessibility between investment locations and Geographically constrained Oxford city university/knowledge clusters

Lack of suitable business start-up, incubation, grow Innovative Connectivity on premises and research/collaboration facilities Slow or indirect international connections compared Complex business support schemes to our competitors Shortage of early stage investment for new Key arterial routes and inter-connections at capacity businesses and start-ups Limited connectivity within Oxfordshire - Lack of available freehold land for development to infrastructure that doesn’t match new travel patterns support growth Exploiting the investment and resilience of super-fast Need for additional ‘clean room’ space for life broadband sciences companies in particular has been raised amongst the development community 30 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Low Business Growth and Export Levels In 2011-2012, 7% of employers reported that Whilst businesses are growing and performing hard to fill vacancies were impacting on their 17 well in terms of productivity, the business business (compared with 5% nationally) . base is static, with only a 21% increase in The primary reason for these difficulties was business stock over the past 10 years, ranking a lack of applicants with the required skills, Oxfordshire in the lower half of all LEPs for qualifications or experience; this issue was growth in the number of businesses. We have more common in Oxfordshire than nationally the 7th highest rate of business churn (rate of and in neighboring areas with similar start-ups and closures). economies (for example Berkshire and Surrey). The availability of specialist skills is a barrier Oxfordshire businesses, when formed, have to growth in the advanced manufacturing/ a high level of survival rates, with the LEP motorsport industries and the Culham Centre ranked 3rd out of 39 LEP areas. Businesses in for Fusion Energy reported over 70 current Oxfordshire do not perform well in terms of skilled vacancies at technical level. employment in export intensive industries, ranking in the bottom half of LEP areas and Retaining graduates from the University hindering our growth potential. of Oxford is highly competitive with global business locations. Oxfordshire is surrounded Oxford has the highest ratio of public sector by strong economies that are also growing to private sector employment of any city and the jobs market in London and the in England16 with a ratio of 1:1 or 50% Thames Valley is an increasing draw for public sector employment, which includes residents in the county. This means that Oxfordshire’s academic sector. Oxford is in the employers in Oxfordshire wishing to expand bottom 10 cities for private sector job growth, their workforce are competing for labour with -4.1% growth between 2011 and 2012- firms across a much wider geography than reflecting the significance of our life sciences, Oxfordshire and the UK. medical and academic sectors. Gaps exist in other sectors as well. Service Skills and Labour Shortages roles are key in supporting local economies and providing the services required by Low unemployment and inactivity rates businesses, investors, and residents, with make it difficult for employers to recruit significant numbers of roles available at suitably qualified staff. High growth, entry and lower skilled entry points. The innovative companies need access to a range Oxfordshire service sector is currently of services, skills and support to enable suffering labour shortages, particularly in them to grow and scale their businesses. health and social care, retail and hospitality, and the logistics sectors.

Industry Sector Skills Area SFA Sector EFA SGF SFA Employees Learning Aims Tier 1 or Tier 2 where Lead Body Learning Learning more appropriate Aims Aims Number % Number %

Manufacturing Manufacturing Process and 241 320 25,200 7.9 561 0.6 Technologies (T2) Manufacturing Professional Science and Science, Engineering 8,396 1160 34,200 10.7 9,556 10.8 Scientific & Mathematics and Manufacturing Technical Activities Technologies

Oxfordshire’s STEM Business base and Education Provision 2011 The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 31

These sectors overlap with the across the city. There is a further targeted concentrations of long term unemployment investment delivering ultrafast broadband where skills, labour and jobs are not in the Science Vale Oxford Enterprise Zone matched or connected. These areas are from 2014. to be found in both urban and rural parts of the county. Negative social conditions Evidence suggests that broadband speed occur particularly in areas with the poorest and coverage upgrades can provide major communication, lack of access to services, GVA uplift of around 0.3% for every doubling and weakest business bases. There is of speed. Many businesses in Oxfordshire currently a lack of integrated travel options will be experiencing a quadrupling in speed that is constraining mobility for people, from the planned investment. business and communities that will need Our information and exchange networks and to be overcome to bridge the gap between hubs need greater focus, connectivity, scale available labour, jobs and skills. and reach across the region and need to be There are insufficient people with the right better linked with the universities, research intermediate level skills flowing through centres and incubator accommodation that into Science Technology Engineering and already exist. Mathematics (STEM) occupations. Of particular concern is that whilst STEM Connectivity within Oxfordshire businesses account for 18.6% (approximately Transforming connectivity across and into 60,000 employees) of our business base, the Oxfordshire is critical to underpin the spatial Skills Funding Agency fund less than 1,500 aspirations that deliver the innovation based individual learning aims per annum, which is growth. This needs to be done in ways that less than 2.5% of the total STEM workforce provide leadership on responses to climate indicating a mismatch between skills funding change and maintaining biodiversity, as and business needs. well as supporting a strong, innovative local economy and overall enhancing the quality Digital Connectivity of life for all across the county.

There has been limited access to resilient The current road and rail connections do and fast broadband that is expected by not support close physical connections businesses for collaboration. Provision between the key areas of Bicester, Oxford and of effective broadband in rural areas is a Science Vale Oxford and this is important in particular constraint. Oxfordshire County reducing the distance between and across Council has committed to, and implemented, these investment locations and between the a scheme to improve broadband across the University of Oxford and high tech business county, including rural areas by the end of clusters. Current direct local rail services are 2015. This will take coverage of superfast limited to: broadband to 92% of the county. We will continue to work with local authorities • Didcot – Oxford: 2 trains per hour (3 and BT as investment partner to continue trains per hour in the AM peak) to increase coverage through various • Oxford – Bicester: limited service funding channels. To supplement this work the ‘Super-connected Cities’ project in Public transport options linking the three Oxford will deliver ultrafast broadband to main railway stations to homes and businesses and a public wireless service businesses are infrequent, indirect or 32 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Transport Network Versus Travel Desire Lines The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 33

unavailable. The public transport map Oxfordshire currently suffers from capacity does not currently match the pattern of issues exacerbated by in-commuting. These development in the high-tech industries. The in turn create constraints to economic road network within Science Vale Oxford does productivity and growth in the county. The not reflect the polycentric character of the A34 and A40, in the heart of Oxfordshire, area or the employment and housing growth suffer from poor journey times that of recent years: the routes are not well will prove a significant constraint as the aligned to connect the new and emerging economy grows. The delays caused by sites, and their capacity is being outstripped congestion are a cost borne by businesses by the scale of growth. The main need is to and can lead to less productive employees. improve east-west links to provide improved These (and other) capacity restrictions limit access for Wantage/ Grove and the Harwell business efficiency and investment, and the Campus and to link with Milton Park and the ability for communities to access the full new housing sites to the west of Didcot. range of services.

The A34 has many roles. It is an important Transport System Capacity regional/national corridor for both freight and people movement between the South Coast and the Midlands. It is also the key spine route for Central Oxfordshire between Bicester, Oxford and Science Vale Oxford and it also acts as a western bypass for Oxford and has an important role for local traffic. The A34 is at capacity and suffers from severe journey time reliability problems which in turn cause major delays to users. All of the A34 through the county, except the southernmost section, is amongst the worst 20% for journey delays with the northern section around Oxford amongst the worst 10% and 34% of all journeys experience delay18. Businesses cite the A34 and A40 as having a significant impact on business and it is identified as the key piece of infrastructure restricting innovative growth19.

The A34 Oxfordshire Route Based Strategy Baseline Report (2013) based on observed traffic, found that most of the route is working above congestion reference flows, meaning many sections of the A34 are likely to experience peak time congestion. The baseline report clearly highlights the congestion issues the A34 already experiences across most of its route in Network Performance 2012/13 Delay Oxfordshire. Traffic modelling suggests that, by 2030, with the current planned 34 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

level of development within Oxfordshire Lack of Space to Retain plus exogenous growth, peak periods are Growing Businesses likely to spread and maximum capacity peaks will occur more frequently causing Demand for commercial premises increased vehicle delays on the network. currently outstrips supply, which inflates Current trends in traffic growth (Department costs and constrains growth and business 5 for Transport forecast) also suggest that performance . In addition, lack of suitable congestion through the day and at weekend business start-up and particularly grow- peak periods is likely to occur on a regular on space limits business growth and often basis. Other key arterial routes in the leads to businesses starting in Oxfordshire county suffer from current and predicted before moving elsewhere, both nationally congestion. The A40 currently experiences and internationally. Demand for innovation average delays of 25 minutes20, the A41 infrastructure, including, incubation and currently experiences congestion and is start-up work space, grow on and research/ expected to experience delays of up to 20 collaboration facilities is outstripping minutes by 203121 and the M40 section demand across Oxfordshire. between J9 and 10 is also predicted to experience an increase in traffic which will Low-Level Support for New (and cause major delays by 2030 even with new Existing) Businesses schemes such as pinch point projects at both Businesses across Oxfordshire have cited J9 and 1022. accessing relevant, effective and valued Traffic congestion is also a significant business support advice as a key barrier to challenge within the urban centres and is a their growth23. Levels of uptake of some particularly issue in Oxford, one of the most of the nationally developed business congested cities in UK with a congestion rate support schemes are not as high as would of 31%, compared with London at 27%. UK be expected. The main reason is the Congestion is estimated to cost £20 billion complexity of offers and support that can (RAC) in lost production. This translates on be communicated to a business, leaving a averages to £400 million to £500 million a feeling of confusion and inertia. Simplifying year across Oxfordshire, of which A34 would the current fragmented landscape and be a large part of the problem. A recent providing relevant and effective support Study by INRIX and Centre for Economics going forward are needed to address this suggests direct cost to consumers is £491 constraining issue. per household, based on wasted fuel, Access to finance and investment is a wasted commuting time, additional delivery critical requirement for business growth. costs. Using this as a standard and given that Whilst there is evidence to demonstrate Oxford has a 50% worse congestion index that banks are improving borrowing levels than the average City area this is, arguably, to support established businesses, there is costing the county a further £100 to 150 evidence from high technology firms across million. Oxfordshire that there is a chronic shortage The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 35

of early stage investment for new businesses public sector cannot support the private and start-ups. This is not unique to high sector developers in a proactive way as a technology businesses, but given that these land owner. types of businesses need early investment to develop products and services from concept In Oxford, the market is overheating and into commercialised products and services, complexities of land availability, assembly which is a key constraint on Oxfordshire’s and associated high costs cause long innovation-led growth ambitions. delays. Overcrowding in Oxford is above regional/ national averages and the City is tightly constrained both in terms of flood Lack of Affordable Housing risk, historic built environment and Green Being able to attract the right work force Belt, which means that it is difficult to to match projected future growth requires fulfil demand. The city has and will release an increase in housing provision across public sector land, and assembled sites for Oxfordshire. accelerated housing delivery using their own private-public sector investment model. Despite the significant levels of new homes planned in Oxfordshire over the next The narrowness of the housing model also 15 years, local housing is at the limit of creates a challenge to meet the needs of affordability for many who live and work here. an ageing population, particularly in the The Department for Communities and Local rural areas. The delivery of private homes Government (DCLG) evidence of affordability specifically designed for older people as ratios show Oxfordshire is significantly above part of larger housing schemes has not been the national and regional averages and have achieved in Oxfordshire. been worsening over time. The average house price in Oxford is 15 times the average The number of people aged 65 years and salary. over is forecast to increase by 46% to 2026, with numbers of very elderly (85 years Lack of public land ownership, particularly and over) forecast to increase by 69%. in the rural districts, constrains the land Whilst significant growth (around 16%) is available to accelerate new housing also forecast for the youngest age groups, delivery. A significant amount of potentially the working age population is forecast to suitable land in the growth areas is under increase by just 6%. long standing option agreements and not available for purchase by the authorities if 80% they wished to do so. This means that the 60% 40%

20% 1997 ratio 2011 Ratio 2012 Ratio 0%

Oxfordshire 4.68 8.93 9.00 75+ -20% 0 to 3 4 to 10 11 to 16 17 to 24 25 to 44 45 to 64 65 to 74 South East 4.20 8.19 Unavailable to 2011 2026 relative by Numbers Jan 2014 population forecasts – relative change England 3.57 6.57 6.59 in population numbers 2026 vs. 2011

DCLG Affordability Ratios for Oxfordshire, 2011 and 2012 Forecast population growth 36 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Social Constraints Flooding Constraints Although Oxfordshire is relatively wealthy, The past decade has seen four major flood twelve areas that fall into the category of incidents occur in Oxfordshire impacting 20% most deprived in the country remain, on businesses and communities. The long mostly in Oxford, Cherwell and the Vale of term economic success of Oxfordshire will White Horse. depend on being able to grow and stay open for business. The emerging Oxford Flood Risk 76.6% of pupils in Oxfordshire achieved 5 Management Strategy (OFRMS) will identify GCSEs, at grade A-C. This compares to 82% critical pieces of enabling infrastructure that for the region and 81.8% nationally. 60.6% will keep the City’s key transport links clear, of Oxfordshire pupils gained 5 A*-C grades businesses open and a workforce able to at GCSE (including English and Maths), concentrate on work rather than the recovery compared to an England average of 59.2%. of their property from flood damage. It 6.6% of our 16-18 year olds are not in will conserve and enhance Oxford’s special education, employment or training (NEET). environment and provide a greater draw for While the majority of 16 year olds continue visitors. Floods in the Oxford area are lengthy, learning when they complete their statutory typically lasting between seven and nine days. education, there are others – often the most vulnerable – who do not. Young people who Loss of transport infrastructure due to do not obtain 5 GCSEs at A*-C are seven flooding has been experienced five times: times more likely to be NEET at 17 than those 2003, 2007, 2012, 2013 and 2014. This has an who achieve this level, thus stifling their impact on existing businesses but also on the potential. The skills deficit is broadly aligned confidence of new business to want to invest to the major urban centres. in the area. The 2007 flood event created £874,000 damage on the Botley Road, Abingdon Road, Kennington Road - excluding the effect of people not being able to get in or out of Oxford.

Enabling infrastructure to reduce flood risk will keep road and rail links open making Oxford a more attractive proposition for investment. The railway line in the OFRMS study area runs from the south, dividing in Oxford to continue to the north east and northwest. During previous flood incidents the railway line has been closed due to inundation of the tracks to the north of, and in the vicinity of, Old Abingdon Road in Oxford city centre. Severe disruption to mainline railway services occurred during the 2003, 2007 and 2014 floods. The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 37

A number of major roads serve, and run through, the OFRMS study area.

Road Provides links to

A34 (western bypass and Bicester to north part of southern Oxford bypass) A40 (northern Oxford Cheltenham to west bypass) M40, Thame and Aylesbury to the east

A420 (Botley Road - Oxford city centre, main route into Oxford Swindon and M4 city centre from the motorway west) A4144 ( Abingdon Road Oxford city centre, A474 - main route into Oxford southern bypass, A34 city centre from the western bypass south) A4074 (southern Oxford Wallingford and Reading bypass) A415 (Witney to A420) Witney and the south west of the study area

Local Routes Affected by Flooding and Impact on The National Infrastructure

Several important roads run directly through the floodplain crossing the watercourses at right angles and causing flow to be restricted at times of flood. Botley Road and Abingdon Road were flooded during the 2007 and 2013 floods along with B-Roads leading to Binsey Area protected by OFRMS and Kennington, leaving these two villages effectively cut-off. The loss of these arterial routes has a direct impact on businesses in Oxford and on their work force. 38 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Oxfordshire today has significant Given the scale and range of planned growth we opportunity to create the conditions that have the opportunity to offer a range of employment make us the location of choice for the options to all who are able to participate in our world’s leading science and technology labour market at all levels, including to those most businesses, driving economic growth across marginalised the county and underpinning our long-term economic success. Innovative Place

Innovative Enterprise Oxfordshire offers a high quality of life, attractive to knowledge rich businesses and to our local and international labour force supported by a globally Oxfordshire is one of the best-performing and renowned visitor and cultural economy innovative areas in England. We have significant strengths in six of the ‘eight great technologies’, are Local housing is not affordable for many who work one of the top 5 technology innovation ecosystems here, and is a major constraint on recruitment and in the world, international leaders in advanced retention at all levels engineering and manufacturing and we have the largest concentration of multi-million dollar science Oxford City is geographically constrained by flood research facilities in Europe risk, historic built environment and Green Belt

However, our strong academic and research There are opportunities to sustainably uplift economy is not translating through to services and and prioritise integrated transport and housing products to the extent of its full potential – we rely development that enables a step change in the on fragmented and informal collaborative networks, delivery of sufficient and sustainable quality housing lack start-up and ongoing business support and that is affordable yet attractive to the market facilities and suffer from poor accessibility between investment locations and university/knowledge hubs We have the opportunity to make innovative use of which we know generates economic activity and blue and green infrastructure to enhance our built innovation and natural capital and deliver multiple benefits to our communities There are opportunities to build economic growth and wealth through building in our capabilities Innovative Connectivity in the ‘eight great technologies’, improving the proximity of technology clusters, university research programs and high-technology businesses to We are strategically located at the heart of the UK stimulate significant business spin-outs and growth road and rail network, within an hour of London opportunities and expanding our UK expertise in Heathrow Airport with access to global markets, innovation based technologies but our connections are often slow, indirect or unreliable, largely as a result of limited capacity

Innovative People Our electronic and transport infrastructure doesn’t match the demands of our knowledge and We have a higher than average high-skilled workforce innovation based high-technology businesses and national economic activity rates but we also have We have the opportunity to capitalise on significant a mismatch of skills needed for our high-technology existing investment commitments in broadband, businesses and pockets of unemployment. Retaining rail and highway networks to ensure increased our graduate talent is challenging and we suffer from connectivity in our core economic areas and across labour shortages, particularly in many STEM based Oxfordshire as a whole sectors as well as health and social care, retail and hospitality, and the logistics sectors The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 39

3. Strategic Vision for Oxfordshire’s Economy to 2030

Our Vision specific objectives that are achievable and measurable. Through our interventions Focussing on the overarching theme and delivery plan, we have the opportunity of Driving Economic Growth through to fulfil the objectives and drive economic Innovation and recognising our growth across Oxfordshire, growing the UK opportunities and challenges, the economy as a whole. Oxfordshire vision is: The objectives reflect our priorities for “By 2030 Oxfordshire will be recognised economic growth to 2030, focusing limited as a vibrant, sustainable, inclusive, world government resources on areas of greatest leading economy, driven by innovation, economic impact. The four themes are: enterprise and research excellence.” In achieving our vision we foresee an Innovative Enterprise economy based on the continual cross Innovation led growth is at the heart of our fertilisation of ideas, investment and strategy, underpinned by the strength of application, which takes place within a our University research and development permissive business environment, and which capacity, business collaboration and supply is fully integrated with and supportive of its chain potential. natural environment.

In order to achieve our Vision, we will need Innovative People to focus our energy and investment to Delivering and attracting specialist and capitalise on our opportunities, and address flexible skills at all levels, across all sectors, our challenges. as required by our businesses, with full, Our City Deal provides the immediate inclusive employment and fulfilling jobs. impetus for delivery in the short term, and will be complemented by our Strategic Innovative Place Economic Plan to further accelerate delivery Providing both the quality environment and to 2020 initially, and to 2030 in the longer choice of homes needed to support growth term. whilst capitalising upon the exceptional Objectives quality of life, vibrant economy and the dynamic urban and rural communities of our Our ambition is to create the conditions that county. make Oxfordshire the location of choice for the world’s leading science and technology Innovative Connectivity businesses. Allowing people to move freely, connect In order to achieve this we have developed easily and providing the services, four key themes based on identification of environment and facilities needed by a Oxfordshire’s opportunities and challenges. dynamic, growing and dispersed economy. These themes are underpinned by 40 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

The Oxfordshire Knowledge Spine • Science Vale Oxford - where we will build on its extensive research infrastructure Our Strategic Economic Plan prioritises and the designation of Harwell as interventions in key locations, specifically the home of the national Satellite along the ‘Oxfordshire Knowledge Spine’. Applications ‘Catapult’, the European The Knowledge Spine runs through the Space Agency and Enterprize Zone centre of the county with the three key areas for growth potential in population, • Bicester - where we will support employment and housing at Bicester, Oxford significant increases in employment City and Science Vale Oxford. growth through infrastructure improvements and land availability • Oxford - where we will continue to invest in developing the critical infrastructure necessary to realise the full potential of its world-class education, research and innovation that underpins our growth

The Oxfordshire Knowledge Spine The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 41

The projects identified in our Strategic The investment for the Strategic Economic Economic Plan for delivering growth focus Plan, builds on this potential to release the on the connectivity of the Knowledge Spine maximum economic benefit for the UK. that links the key hubs to the wider transport As identified in the economic forecasting network locally, nationally and internationally. report25, this will have significant indirect jobs In this way, growth in the Knowledge Spine growth across the county as a whole in the will drive benefits throughout the whole supply chain industries. economy of Oxfordshire, the south east region, and nationally.

Current Position 2014 With LGF Intervention 2021

30 Minute Public Transport Travel Time Within Oxfordshire Knowledge Spine 42 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

4. Our Programme for Growth

Our aim is to create the conditions that Our Local Growth Deal bid will further shape make Oxfordshire the location of choice for our future, creating the conditions necessary the world’s leading science and technology to underpin our long-term economic success, businesses. Crucial to realising that aim focusing limited government resources on is investor confidence: a commitment to areas of greatest economic impact which will ensuring that our networks and infrastructure permeate economic growth across the whole are fit for purpose is central to creating that of the county. confidence which will build on Oxfordshire’s natural advantage as a world leading centre Our programme for of knowledge and innovation. To support our growth will deliver: Strategic Economic Plan we need: • Overarching, county-wide Investments in • Gross Value Added uplift of c£.6.6 billion at our networks and infrastructure constant prices »» linking Oxfordshire to the World: • 85,600 new jobs by 2031 (a 1% increase providing efficient connectivity to per annum) compared to 0.8% per annum international markets for information, achieved between 2001 and 2011 people, logistics and products • A minimum of 30 new international investments per year : »» linking The Knowledge Spine • 93,560 to 106,560 new homes by 2031 reducing the distance and barriers • c£2.2 billion Private sector investment levered between our core economic areas, • c£65 million investment to support Superfast Bicester, Oxford and Science Vale Oxford (25mb/s +) and Ultrafast (100mb/s+) and ensure the benefits of investment broadband speeds across the county that are able to spread in to the wider support innovative knowledge rich businesses Oxfordshire economy and communities • Investment in our core economic areas and • £125 million flood alleviation programme in our local networks and infrastructure: • £500 million investment in rail improvements ensuring our core economic areas can • c£815 million of transport infrastructure function and are not constrained by improvements capacity, efficiency and resilience problems • Increase the amount of Skills Funding Agency funding that supports our STEM sectors by Our City Deal provides the immediate impetus 15% to better reflect our economic profile for delivery in the short term. Aligned to City • An increased proportion of the working age Deal, our European Structural and Investment population qualified to level 2 and above to Fund (ESIF) plan sets out our proposals for 90% the use of the c£20m European funds which • Increased school attainment to support have been earmarked for Oxfordshire for growth the 2014-2020 period. Our ESIF delivery is • An additional 1150 apprenticeships for young designed to boost our ability to innovate, people in our priority and growth sectors support business growth and job creation, and • Growth in Oxfordshire’s Green Economy and provide opportunities for residents throughout Natural Capital the county to participate in our high skills, high quality labour market, including measures specifically targeted on our rural areas. The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 43

Countywide Investment - Innovative Enterprise

Our aim is to develop a culture of innovative enterprises that is better able to support our growth ambitions, world class sectors and communities.

Our Oxfordshire Innovation Strategy is well advanced and will provide greater analytical depth and specific programme actions for this central area of the strategy. It builds upon the foundations established by the City Deal and ESIF Programme; looking forward to assess the implications for Oxfordshire’s economy – and society – and of our position as a world leader in innovation.

Our enterprise economy spans innovation at all levels and in many sectors, with the county’s large number of businesses, organisations and community groups strongly linked with growth in environmental innovation, including a significant increase in Agri-Tech services and the low carbon agenda. This makes Oxfordshire an ideal location for innovation, research and development coupled with demonstration and test-beds to grow environmental business innovation and enterprise. Oxfordshire’s world class natural and built heritage contributes significantly to our enterprise base. 44 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Countywide Investment - Innovative Enterprise

Our Local Growth Fund Offer Our Local Growth Fund Ask

A world leading science and technology cluster, To work in partnership with UKTI to develop a greater including the UK’s synchrotron facility, the Medical awareness and understanding of Oxfordshire’s offer, Research Council and the European Space Agency the particularly in overseas posts with a particular focus on Science Vale Oxford Enterprise Zone the key sectors of:

Proximity of major research facilities to the • Life sciences Universities is unique in Europe and possibly • Space and Satellite Applications worldwide • Advanced Engineering (automotive & motorsport) Through the SEP and Local Growth Fund, Oxfordshire • Creative/Media/Big Data will maximise the world-class assets in the area and encourage more commercialisation from research DEFRA and DECC to direct investment resources through the Local Growth Fund programme to enable We will develop, and unite behind the ‘Oxford/ a more integrated and innovative use of natural Oxfordshire’ brand as a recognised global leader in resources aligned to growth innovation ensuring those outside the region receive clear messages about our offer, and are able to easily A commitment from Government to work with access the people and networks that they need Oxfordshire to realise potential through locating appropriate national research centres of excellence At the heart of one of only three economies alongside and aligned to our academic excellence contributing positively to the Exchequer £7.2m Funding to develop our Oxfordshire Business A growing number of environmental and land based Support programme to deliver the following: bodies making important contributions through research and demonstration, such as the Earth Trust’s • Oxfordshire Support for Export work on ash die-back, and the Trust for Oxfordshire’s Oxfordshire Support for Business Environment • • Oxfordshire Support for Innovation c£8.6m European Regional Development Funds aligned to innovation led growth A £14.8m business support programme that drives growth in innovation, export and business start-up supported by a mature network of business support organisations generating c£10m match, including £2.5m ERDF/private

A mature network of business support organisations generating c£1.5m match funding that support SME growth The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 45

Countywide Investment - Innovative Enterprise

sector focused clusters we intend to build. NaturalMotion is a Objectives The Witty Review36 noted that universities leading games and Our objectives are to: technology company are the anchors of the economy. To our two based in Oxford, • Grow Oxfordshire’s world-class universities, Oxfordshire can add world class London, Brighton, technology clusters leading to a GVA facilities at Harwell and Culham, a mighty and San Francisco. uplift of £6.6bn to 2030 anchor for technology growth in the UK They create and economy. Key sectors we wish to address in • Achieve a more balanced economy publish ultra-high the next phase of our growth include data quality, free-to-play through fostering a dynamic private analytics, superconductivity and agri-tech. games that combine sector and new business start-ups, We will be looking at developing specific polished gameplay creating at least 85,600 new jobs by 2031 with high-end 3D sector focused activities, using the Oxford Capitalise on the global reputation of graphics using their • Innovation Support Programme funded own proprietary Oxfordshire’s knowledge base translating through City Deal to directly meet the sector technologies. academic and research excellence into needs. NaturalMotion was wealth generation for all our residents founded in November • Fulfil our potential as an internationally Increase New Business Creation 2001 as a spin-out renowned business, academic and Oxford is at the heart of one of the five leading company from research centre to attract a minimum Oxford University. technology clusters in the world focused on of 30 new high value foreign direct 26 Social network universities . Since Oxford Instruments spun gaming company investments per year out of Oxford University in 1959 a steady Zynga acquired stream of high tech companies has been Strategic Interventions NaturalMotion in created and nurtured in and around Oxford. January 2014 for We are determined to accelerate the growth $US527 million. Grow centres of excellence that are accessible to business of this ecosystem by improving access to www.naturalmotion. finance, creating physical spaces and providing com Our world class research facilities have been designed to support and underpin the leading mentors to entrepreneurs and scientists. edge research for which Oxford is globally The universities and scientific facilities are recognised. We have already made strides in undergoing a significant culture change the City Deal creating new interfaces to drive and supporting these activities, providing proximity between businesses and academic impetus and sustenance to growing high- researchers through the four innovation tech companies. The City Deal Innovation centres focused on our knowledge spine. We Centres are key points in the landscape; we now wish to create sector specific centres will build more and increase the services and of excellence that will further enhance the connections that these points can offer to ability of businesses to engage with The the business community. In parallel, through Knowledge Spine. Innovative enterprises the emerging Oxfordshire Business Support will find facilities and knowledge close to Hub we will develop a streamlined and co- hand, allowing rapid growth. The technology ordinated package of support for local business start-ups that are characteristic of the start-up and growth with a particular emphasis Oxfordshire economic landscape will find on supporting 7500 businesses (25% of our the rich food for growth they need in the business base) to export export in line with government ambition. 46 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Countywide Investment - Innovative Enterprise

Connect the Networks existing provision, amplify and enhance existing services to businesses and plug Many have observed the complexity of gaps with bespoke programmes in order Oxford’s overlapping networks, differentiated to promote innovation based growth. The by industry sector, proximity to market, and programme will have two parts: many other criteria. It is this richness that creates many opportunities for serendipitous • Simpler business support - the innovation where networks interact. It is not programme will simplify the support our intention to create a “one stop shop” available to local businesses by bringing overarching network (previous attempts information together on a single website have failed and we will learn from this). about the existing support. The network Instead we will work with existing networks will have a single brand under the Local to increase connectivity and understanding Enterprise Partnership and will provide of opportunities arising in different fields. The marketing materials and an events City Deal has funded Network Navigators who calendar that will increase awareness of provide connectivity between networks and the national and local service offers that institutions, and the Oxford communities have are available engaged enthusiastically with this idea. We will • Investing in innovative businesses - in work to continue to fund this programme, learn addition, we have identified a series of what works, and embed enhanced network bespoke programmes that address gaps connectivity in Oxfordshire. in existing provision, are tailored to the specific needs of Oxfordshire businesses Oxfordshire Innovation Support Program and do not duplicate existing services. The Oxfordshire Innovation Support Program The programmes represent a substantial is a tailored business support programme new investment in direct business which will bring together a network of support to help spin-outs and companies at key stages of their development

Attracting Inward Investment Companies worldwide are increasingly of the view that they need to access innovative ideas in order to achieve a competitive advantage27. We will improve our inward investment offer by bringing our research facilities and people into the sector focused networks, enabling inward investment teams to rapidly construct comprehensive offers for hi tech firms, including links to Oxford’s universities. We are already initiating joint appointments between, for example, Oxford University and the LEP and we will extend this model. The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 47

Countywide Investment - Innovative Enterprise

Local Growth Fund – Our Ask We seek to explore with UK Trade and Investment how, adopting the UK first Attracting Foreign Direct Investment principal, we can deliver additional foreign We seek to explore how we might work in direct investment aligned to our key sectors. better in partnership with UK Trade and Building on the global Oxford brand and Investment to develop a greater awareness by developing greater awareness of the and understanding of Oxfordshire’s offer, Oxfordshire offer internationally, targeted particularly in overseas posts with a at key locations that align to our sectors we particular focus on the key sectors of: aim to deliver a step change in foreign direct investment to drive growth. • Life sciences • Space and Satellite Applications Begbroke Grow-on space • Advanced Engineering (automotive & Provision of flexible, mixed-occupancy motorsport) space, for use as laboratories, offices or • Creative/Media/Big Data workshops, to support the demand for commercial tenancy from new technology companies arising in the county and for the growth of existing companies at Begbroke Case Study: Primary Designs, Thame who wish to remain close to the knowledge base. It will provide a facility whereby Primary Designs was business funded research can be co-located established in 1998 and earned with academic research and the facilities on its prestigious reputation by the science park. designing and manufacturing quality exhaust systems for the Centre for Agritech Development, motorsport industry including Begbroke, Oxford Formula 1 teams. New plant growth facilities at the Begbroke Science Park to provide key resources to Primary Designs is a family engage effectively with the Agri-Biotech run business and currently industrial community. The Begbroke site employs 16 highly skilled provides an opportunity to design and build engineers with a combined environmentally friendly and sustainable experience of over 90 years containment facilities. The project would working in the motorsport enable realisation of research at the industry. The company designs forefront of areas of scientific research vital and fabricates exhaust systems to agriculture and related technologies, using the very latest technology through providing the infrastructure and innovation, most of which (modern plant growth research facilities) is unique to Primary Designs to support academia and industry in and has been developed in- developing and applying this science and house. technology. 48 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

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Centre for Applied Superconductivity across the UK by BIS’s Automotive Council. Oxfordshire proposes to base its spoke on 95% of the UK’s industrial end user activity the internationally recognised research it in applied superconductivity and the undertakes in the three technology areas of underpinning cryogenics technology is located internal combustion engines, energy storage in the A34 corridor. We will create a Centre and electrical machines and power electronics. for Applied Superconductivity to coordinate the interaction between industry (Oxford Centre in Nanofabrication Instruments, Siemens Magnet Technology, Agilent Technologies), Oxford University, Develop and provide a 1000m2 cryogenics companies, and end users nanofabrication facility in collaboration with (including SMEs), on the Harwell Campus and Samsung in Oxford. Such a centre would be Culham Centre for Fusion Research Campus. utilised by world leading physical scientists from the departments of Engineering, Advanced propulsion centre Materials, and Physics. The Oxford Advance Propulsion Centre will Northern Gateway Innovation Area work with the UK’s leading institutions to develop technology and a stream of skilled The vision for the Northern Gateway is engineers for at three of the Automotive to create an employment area which will Councils “Five Strategic Technologies for build on the strengths of Oxford’s economy the UK Auto Industry” that represent in the key sectors of education, health, world-leading research and development research and development, and knowledge- capabilities at Oxford University and within based businesses. The development of the the region. Oxfordshire and neighbouring Northern Gateway offers the opportunity regions are home to a world-renowned for existing and new firms to relocate and cluster of advanced automotive skills and ensure that Oxford’s economy continues facilities, spanning Formula 1, Jaguar Land to grow. There is scope for the provision Rover, Silverstone (and its high tech auto of new residential accommodation to help cluster) and a myriad of support companies. meet Oxford’s housing needs and also some The Oxford Advanced Propulsion Centre will complementary uses, which may include be a regional centre of expertise for these retail and hotel use, to enhance the sense of cutting-edge automotive technologies that place and add vitality and sustainability. will leverage UK wide project funding and Investment will provide for businesses, help secure a leading role for the region in co-location of new and growing business in the UK’s strong automotive sector. Our vision knowledge based industries. Close links to of the Centre is that it will provide new the Universities and hospitals, and a high space for the co-location of international quality working environment help foster and regional players, with university and a creative atmosphere where innovation company researchers working side by side. thrives. For residents, modern new homes Oxfordshire’s part of the recently announced with access to community facilities and open UK £1 billion “Advanced Propulsion Centre” spaces make this a desirable place to live. A and initiative is now being completed mix of housing helps encourage a balance of The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 49

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residents and new amenities to complement combined with the resources of the Bodleian those available in neighbouring areas. Libraries, the new facility will help to establish Oxford as a global leader in the preservation Clinical BioManufacturing Centre of cultural heritage and the fostering of digital Clinical BioManufacturing provides links research in humanities. These collections between academic research and drug are substantial (Ashmolean – 80,000 objects, development, supporting the transition History of Science - 12,000, Natural History from science to technology and technology – 425,000, Pitt Rivers – 200,000) and of to application. Local growth funding would international significance in their own right enable the extension of cleanroom capacity. but are currently heavily under-utilised. All are government-Designated as of national Innovation e-infrastructure or international importance. The associated Oxfordshire (across the University of Oxford, archives also offer an outstanding record of Harwell and Culham) has a key area of the history of scholarship, e.g. development strength in mathematics, modelling and data of archaeology as a discipline, and the analytics. In order to contribute to improving history of collecting. These activities are national competitiveness in this critical field, well-suited to commercial opportunities in Oxfordshire will include this as one of its e.g. publishing, media (radio/film/TV), and priority sectors in the strategic economic national and international training programs plan, making growth funding available to in conservation and collections management. support national investment in infrastructure Tourism Network Enhancements in this region by making connected investments in our local infrastructure to The visitor economy brings £1.7 billion a enable, if the government is so minded, the year into Oxfordshire and employs 30,480 foundation of a Turing Institute, a Big Data people. Experience Oxfordshire aims to Analytics centre, and one industry on-ramp grow the sector by twice the national (in life sciences) to build on existing data annual forecast, at 2% pa. Doing so will strengths including financial services, health require greater investment into marketing data and satellite applications. and development with the aim of achieving twice the forecast UK tourism growth rate, Collections Research Centre growing Oxfordshire’s visitor economy by 2% The new Centre will provide research and a year, creating 10,000 new jobs by 2025. study rooms to facilitate research into This proposal focuses on generating new collections and encourage interdisciplinary visitor spend from high growth, high value work between the higher education markets. community and cultural heritage community. The strength of Oxford’s collections – the Business Tourism Development three most visited university museums in The Oxford Strategic Partnership recognises the UK are in Oxford, accounting for almost the importance of business tourism in the half of the four million visitors to university county and has included this sector Business museums annually – making Oxford uniquely Tourism - improving the awareness of suited to providing such a facility. When 50 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

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Oxford as a conference destination and a businesses have had successful experience review Oxfordshire’s position in the market of early marketing in China, leading on and identifying gaps in the city provision. the Cotswolds, Oxford, Blenheim Palace Experience Oxfordshire delivers a business & Bicester Village brands. But funds for partnership programme to market and sell this marketing ended in 2013. As success Oxfordshire as a high value, aspirational in China is based on having a long term international conference destination. consistent presence in the market, the Oxfordshire lacks a purpose built large project will enable Oxfordshire to establish capacity residential venue, and most of a growing presence in the market, develop Experience Oxfordshire’s partners are an attractive rural proposition for it, and independent medium sized businesses. position Oxfordshire to benefit from long As a result they struggle to establish a term growth forecasts especially once VISA market presence on their own, and have barriers are eased. limited marketing budgets. Yet they have the capacity to grow quickly. This project Oxfordshire Business Support Hub proposes undertaking destination business In parallel we seek to drive indigenous tourism marketing with match contributions business growth by developing Oxfordshire from Oxfordshire’s businesses. In the first Business Support to deliver the following year necessary research will be undertaken programmes: to ensure marketing is targeted and effective, and gaps in service provision are • Oxfordshire Support for Business & understood. Innovation – a holistic package of business support packaged under a single Consumer Tourism Development brand that drives growth in innovative, new and established business, especially The proposal is to align this project with an those with the highest growth potential EARDF funded rural tourism project so that Oxfordshire is also able to field its strongest • Oxfordshire Support for Export – aimed brand in the market place; Oxford. The aim at increasing to 7,500 the number of is to attract new visits from high growth, businesses that trade internationally in high spend markets. Oxfordshire’s hotels are line with governments export growth prioritising growth in rates and yield over ambition volume as their strategy for development • Oxfordshire Finance for Business – and investment. High spend growth markets developing an easy to understand and are therefore a priority. The United Nations access co-ordinated finance programme World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) that invests to drive growth in our SME cites China as the world’s fastest growing businesses outbound tourism market, with demand for • Oxfordshire Skills for Business – luxury travel increasing most rapidly . The aimed at increasing the availability of UK Government has committed to removing skills required by business linked to VISA barriers to spur growth in UK visits. increased numbers of traineeships and Experience Oxfordshire and West Oxford apprenticeships District Council in partnership with county The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 51

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Our aim is to Our Local Growth Fund Offer Our Local Growth Fund Ask develop a ‘world class’ Oxfordshire A minimum of 85,600 new jobs projected to 2030, Local autonomy over how education funding agency skills and learning many in high value knowledge rich sectors and skills funding agency investments align to our eco-system that growth needs The research capacity and engagement of our globally is better able to renowned Universities To pilot a model that seeks to embed employability support our growth and enterprise at heart of the education curriculum at ambition, world A £67 million investment in people, skills and all levels class sectors and knowledge The ability to ensure better alignment between communities. A culturally diverse, highly skilled, innovative publically funded education, skills and training population that embraces knowledge including, as a minimum:

c£8.6 million European Social Funds aligned to • Education Funding Agency improving socio-economic inclusion, improved skills Skills Funding Agency and better employment • • National Apprenticeship Service Build on the strong base of skills, knowledge and • National Careers Service experience of existing Oxfordshire VCFS (voluntary, Job CentrePlus community and faith sector) to support the • development of social and environmentally-orientated enterprises targeted on social and employment issues Greater local flexibility in the apprenticeship system to such as ageing, worklessness and NEETs encourage employers to take on apprenticeships

The collective experience, energy and enthusiasm of Funding to maximise the role our environment plays in our Oxfordshire Skills Board to oversee and influence skills and health development change in skills outcomes c£36.6 million FE capital to ensure our further Increase the working age population qualified to level education and training infrastructure capital stock 2 and above to 90% to meet the needs of 21st century learners and employers Increase the amount of Skills Funding Agency that supports STEM sectors by 15%

Deliver 1,150 more apprenticeships for young people in our priority growth sectors

Develop a strategy to retain graduate talent

Maximise our environment to encourage sustainable living, enhancing quality of life and a range of opportunities for people to learn, improve their skills and improve health and well-being 52 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

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Objectives In parallel and building on our successful Our objectives are to: City Deal we want to harness the collective • Increase the working age population enthusiasm and energy of schools, young qualified to level 2 and above to 90% people, parents and employers to motivate and • Ensure our further education capital stock enthuse young people to reach their potential. meets the needs of 21st century learners and employers Ensure our further education capital stock meets the needs of 21st century learners • Improve school attainment above the national average of 60.4% of GCSE and employers students achieving at least five A* to C We want to ensure a higher proportion of grades including English and Maths residents have the skills required by our • Increase the amount of Skills Funding knowledge rich economy, both current and Agency funding that supports our STEM projected, and to develop an aligned and sectors by 15% to better reflect our economic profile responsive skills and learning eco-system that provides opportunities for all. Driving • Deliver 1,150 more apprenticeships for young people with a focus on our priority up the skills capacity of the local population growth sectors is linked to a more flexible and productive • Retain our graduate talent workforce which in turn is a key driver of • Maximise our environment to encourage productivity improvements. For young people sustainable living, enhancing quality of life in particular, it can lead to better employment and a range of opportunities for people opportunities, improved pay prospects and to learn, improve their skills and improve a better quality of life. For business, it means health and well-being success with improved productivity, innovative Strategic interventions practice and quality products. For the county, it represents sustained future prosperity. Increase the working age population qualified to level 2 and above to 90% Working with our Further Education and We want to maximise the levers of planned wider provider network we have identified investment and growth to ensure skills and a series of capital projects that will enhance training opportunities for local residents, our FE portfolio and provide state of the art especially those most marginalised. Analysis facilities that better support our knowledge of the planning pipeline – at advanced pre rich sectors, including STEM, and that application and formal submission stages business and young people expect. indicates significant employment growth in Increase the amount of Skills Funding the service sectors in the short to mid-term, Agency funding that supports STEM sectors with four developments (retail and logistics by 15% led) potentially creating 6,500 jobs alone. We will work to ensure that employment Building on our City Deal we will develop a and skills plans are embedded in major more integrated and responsive approach employment generating schemes, and work to skills training and funding that better with developers to deliver skills and training supports the needs of employers – both outcomes for all, especially those most current and projected. In partnership with marginalised from the workforce. our provider network and the SFA we seek The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 53

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to encourage more training provision in Local Growth Fund – Our Ask priority sectors that support our innovation led growth ambition – our target that by Earth Trust Skills for the Future: enabling 2020 we have increased the level of SFA innovative driven sustainable growth in Oxfordshire funded support for STEM by 15% The Earth Trust reconnects people with their Deliver 1,150 more apprenticeships for environment and encourages sustainable young people with a focus on our priority living, enhancing people’s quality of life as growth sectors well as their environment offering a range of We will develop an integrated programme opportunities for people to learn and improve under the Oxfordshire Apprentices brand their skills whatever their age and backgrounds: to further increase the number of young • Innovative ways of managing the people taking up apprenticeships, with a environment particular focus on courses that will support our knowledge rich sectors: advanced • New skills and applied experiences that engineering and manufacturing; space build confidence and understanding technology and biosciences, as well the • Interesting and diverse places to explore service sectors of hospitality, logistics and Health Ecosystems Marketplace care. Oxfordshire Apprenticeships will There is a large body of evidence of the develop an Oxfordshire Apprenticeship health benefits of nature-based projects, delivery plan building on our successful yet there is very little uptake of them across City Deal interventions that will make the country by healthcare practitioners apprenticeships a viable and attractive and commissioners, largely due to a lack option for young people and businesses. of visibility compared to well-marketed Retain our graduate talent commercial interventions. In partnership with the Skills Board, our The Local Nature Partnership (LNP) and Universities, and their graduates we will The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare develop a graduate retention strategy (CSH) aim to create a world-class online and a series of interventions that seek to Health Ecosystems marketplace for nature- encourage and enable more Oxfordshire based organisations to sell their projects, graduates to stay in our local economy and and the health and social sector to buy support our growth ambitions. them – creating value in two sectors. The Marketplace will present benefits from Maximise the role of our environment in nature-based interventions in a structured skills and health and well-being and accessible way to commissioners of Utilising our significant environmental health and social services and showcase research and academic base we seek to projects that will inspire confidence, develop activities that support and maintain supported by research papers and cost- our environment whilst offering skills and benefit analysis for these interventions. training and enhanced quality of life and improved health and well-being outcomes. 54 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

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Our aim is to create Our Local Growth Fund Offer Our Local Growth Fund Ask the conditions that make Local planning authorities will work together accelerate Raise the Oxford City Housing Revenue Account debt Oxfordshire the the delivery of planned homes and to align plans to meet cap by £121m over 10 years. As a first installment the location of choice the identified housing need of 93,560-106,560 homes Growth Fund proposals will include a bid of £30m in for the world’s to 2031 in the Oxfordshire Strategic Housing Market 2015/16 and £30m in 2016/17. Assessment. leading science Government departments to work with Oxfordshire and technology Work in partnership with Government to prioritise partners to release strategically important land for businesses. measures to address housing affordability across the development e.g. MOD at Craven Hill and London & county and in the city. Continental Railways (LCR) at Oxpens.

Deliver a further 1,095 homes on the Oxpens and Explore how to enable the CPO process to be Blackbird Leys sites within 10 years as part of a 3,000 a quicker, simpler & cheaper process for Local home programme within the city beginning in 2015. Authorities to undertake to assist with delivery of schemes/development/regeneration. Oxford City Council will bring forward the Oxpens site for comprehensive redevelopment by 2015 to include a Explore with government how to prevent land being minimum of 300 residential units, together with office, held in option agreements virtually for perpetuity leisure and other employment uses. without development taking place.

Work in partnership with Government and LAs to Work with LEP and LAs to enable LPAs to enforce true implement a system to calculate and enforce residual residual land value rather than hope values. land value rather than hope values. The Housing and Communities Agency to work with Aligned local resources to deliver a coordinated approach Oxfordshire to develop initiatives that encourage to S106 and to facilitate innovative sustainable design a widening of the market housing model, e.g. HCA that improves the attractiveness of housing offer. Build to Rent scheme, including piloting a test bed for innovation in building and design (e.g. competition to Facilitate delivery of strategic flagship gateway projects deliver sustainable design at lower build cost to enable that will help improve sense of place and ‘arrival’ thus to be sold at lower prices due to savings achieved). maximising business investment. LGF ask of £53 million to complement the investment Develop local initiatives to help pump prime delivery of secured to date to facilitate delivery of flagship infrastructure to enable accelerated development. gateway projects in Oxford and Didcot.

To work with government support schemes, the Given the scale of development planned we would Environment Agency and partners to identify funding welcome early and strategic engagement with utilities to deliver the Oxford Flood Risk Management Strategy forward planning processes resulting in a better (£125m indicative cost). integrated and planned approach to development.

£1.3 million of local authority money secured towards Commitment of up to 50% to support our Oxford the delivery of the £1.9 million flood storage scheme in Flood Risk Management Strategy to alleviate flood risk. Oxford City. Commitment of £600,000 from LGF towards a flood Local planning authorities are developing schedules for storage scheme in Oxford City to complement the the Community Infrastructure Levy regularly reviewing wider Oxford Flood Management Strategy in the housing completions against plans. shorter term. Local planning authorities will review building regulations practices to ensure they do not create unnecessary bureaucracy. The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 55

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Objectives: which means that it is difficult to fulfil the full demand. The City will and has released Our objectives are to: public sector land, and assembled sites for • Provide between 93,560 to 106,560 new accelerated housing delivery using their own homes by 2031 private-public sector investment model. • Accelerate the delivery of new homes We consider housing as a critical part • Provide accessible housing that is of delivering the economic potential of affordable for the people who work in Oxfordshire in a sustainable way. If we are Oxfordshire going to secure the potential of Oxfordshire • Deliver flagship gateway developments we understand the importance of ensuring and projects that stimulate growth that people are able to live in affordable • Deliver the Oxford Flood Risk homes close to where the economic Management Strategy potential will be delivered. • Ensure new housing makes innovative As such, the Oxfordshire authorities jointly use of blue and green infrastructure commissioned a Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA)28. The SHMA clearly Strategic interventions articulates that a range of market signals are Increase land available for development in occurring in Oxfordshire and that the market line with economic potential is not in equilibrium. This has occurred for a number of reasons but housing shortages Through our City Deal local authorities have are a key cause. These shortages have committed to bring forward through their worsened affordability and limit the ability local plans, land allocations based on aligned of those living and working in the county to housing and economic strategy. However, access housing. we are more limited in our ability to ensure the rate of delivery on sites needed is The assessment identified the amount of achieved. Local authorities, particularly the housing required not only to meet our trend rural districts, do not own land that could based economic and demographic growth help deliver significant housing at a faster but to support the economic potential of pace to meet need, meaning we are almost Oxfordshire as identified in the planned fully reliant on the private sector to deliver economic forecasts produced by Cambridge homes. Private developments only deliver at Econometrics and SQW. This identified a rate which can be sold for optimal price. that to meet the economic potential of Oxfordshire 85,600 homes are needed to In Oxford the market is overheating and 2031. However, due acute affordable need complexities of land availability, assembly and market signals but the SHMA concludes and associated high costs cause long delays. that across Oxfordshire, there is an identified Overcrowding in Oxford is above regional/ need for provision of between 93,560- national averages and the City is tightly 106,560 homes over the 2011-31 period. constrained both in terms of flood risk, This level of housing provision is necessary historic built environment and Green Belt, 56 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

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to support committed economic growth; to spend the money on elements of design to support delivery of affordable housing; and infrastructure that improve the quality and to support an improvement in the of developments. affordability of housing over time Oxfordshire is not renowned for innovative, Improve viability of development high quality design of homes and none of the schemes under development or Viability pressures reduce the quality, mix those completed in the past decade have and sustainability of the housing offer, won design awards. High quality design and reduce the impact on the built and is important for the enhancement of the natural environment and make homes less natural and built capital that helps make attractive. the county an attractive place to live but Financial appraisals demonstrate that also to ensure that the homes we deliver the infrastructure and affordable housing are attractive to all. By reducing the viability needs required for our larger sites cannot pressures on developments a higher quality all be met from developer contributions, product that provides a choice to a diverse due primarily to high land prices and labour market could be achieved. landowners unwilling to reduce land costs to a realistic level and with no imperative Reduce risk of infrastructure lag to sell. For example, agricultural land in We are committed to delivering additional Oxfordshire without planning permission is homes on an accelerated timeline compared valued at approximately £5,000 to £10,000 to previous trends in Oxfordshire. As part of per hectare compared to £150,000 to doing this, additional infrastructure as well £200,000 per hectare with consents. As as some that is currently planned, will be a consequence development proposals needed sooner than previously programmed stall causing significant delay. The scale by the provider. We seek to secure increased of growth expected in Oxfordshire will flexibility in financing will be required to require a significant investment in a range ensure that infrastructure can keep pace of infrastructure, which will put further with delivery For example, utility providers pressure on the viability of development. In operate on 5 year programmes of financing addition to this there is other infrastructure for improvements, which may not align with required by new development including our accelerated delivery ambitions. We need education, leisure and community facilities. to ensure that strategic and co-ordinated discussions with utilities providers to plan The pressure on the viability of growth in a fully integrated manner. developments is high. Funding of some of the strategic infrastructure, which Pump priming of improvements may enable developments would not fully fund but a more strategic and co-ordinated approach would contribute towards, will release to infrastructure delivery across sectors, money to pay for the other elements of which may lead to other benefits. For infrastructure, reduce delays in negotiations example education, particularly secondary and provide the opportunity for developers education, can be difficult to co-ordinate The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 57

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across sites and deliver upfront. It can More holistic approach to planning and often be pushed back in S106s due to the development economics of development. Pump priming Oxfordshire’s economy is intimately of new facilities may help deliver facilities in associated with its geography; and its water a timely and co-ordinated way. We believe resource has a particular influence with that increased flexibility in financing will be flooding dis-benefits currently overwhelming required to ensure that infrastructure can the positive benefits of water supply, keep pace with delivery. tourism and leisure provision. We will need to work to ensure our economic growth Delivery of the type of homes needed is works to enhance the environment where restricted by the narrowness of the private housing model/offer possible in order to increase resilience to climate change and to optimise the capacity We acknowledge the need to provide a range of the natural environment to deliver a full of homes to meet differing needs of those range of ecosystems services. living and working in Oxfordshire. We consider this a key element in continuing to attract Approximately 24,000 hectares of investment from business. Employees need Oxfordshire is within flood zone 3 (1 in homes that suit their needs. One element of 100 year), and a further 6,000 hectares in this is the rental sector. Rented homes in the flood zone 2 (1 in 1000 year). Investment growth areas will be an important element of in innovative land and water management the housing offer however, the private sector schemes has the potential to reduce some relies almost entirely on small private investors of the current flood-risk constraints, provide to deliver market rented homes. Previous ecosystems services across a range of schemes promoted through the Homes and economies and communities and thus drive Communities Agency for example the Build to growth. Rent sought to address these types of issues. Increased scarcity and cost of raw materials Unfortunately submissions from Oxfordshire such as fertile soil, freshwater and fuel, were unsuccessful but we would support disruptions to business operations caused further resources into these types of schemes. by natural hazards, health and well-being The narrowness of the housing model impacts and higher insurance costs for also affects the older population - the key events such as flooding are further risks in challenge here being to meet the needs of need of mitigation. an ageing population, particularly in the Oxfordshire’s past failure to fully embrace rural areas, with the number of people the environmental sector to drive innovation aged 65 and above expected to increase led growth will be mitigated in future significantly in the period to 2031. However, by adopting a more holistic approach to the delivery of private homes specifically planning and development, using innovative designed for older people as part of larger planning strategies and the development of housing schemes have not been achieved in a strategic environmental economic plan. Oxfordshire to date. 58 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

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Committed Schemes – Our Offer Local Growth Fund Schemes – Our Ask Accelerated Housing Programme As part of the City Deal, Oxfordshire has Delivering effective Strategic Gateways for committed to accelerate the delivery Oxfordshire of 7,500 homes through the combined As part of the spatial strategy of the plan we Oxfordshire Housing Programme by 2018, have identified three key spatial gateways for of which over a third (36 per cent) will growth – Bicester, Oxford and Science Vale be affordable. This represents 72 per Oxford. As part of delivering the growth in cent increase in the number of homes these areas we need to ensure that a high delivered by 2018 against current forecast quality buildings and public realm with a and will provide an immediate stimulus strong sense of place is either created in to the construction industry, engender some cases or enhanced in others. confidence in investors and deliver housing for knowledge economy workers; and We have identified key place making projects committed to deliver the necessary sites that will address issues in these gateway that will meet the housing needs outlined areas. Key drivers of these projects is to in the Strategic Housing Market Assessment provide exemplary gateways to Oxfordshire (reporting in early 2014). that ensures that there is a high quality sense of arrival into these key areas. It is Meeting identified housing need also considered that these key projects to improve these strategic gateways will be Oxfordshire authorities are currently a catalyst for wider regeneration, provide in the process of reviewing plans and a focus for further inward investment and bringing additional sites forward to positively impact on land values. meet the identified housing need from the Oxfordshire SHMA. As part of this These projects will also help emphasise commitment, there is acknowledgement connection between rail and public that Oxford is highly constrained by its transport interchanges and the town or city administrative boundary and will require centres. They help to improve wayfinding, the rural districts to help meet the housing deliver high quality architectural and urban numbers. Demonstrating commitment design and dovetail with planned wider and recognising the crucial importance of development. The projects identified as to housing to facilitate economic growth in the help achieve this currently include: county, all the Oxfordshire authorities have signed up to a Statement of Cooperation28 Oxford Station - Interchange and Gateway that articulates a headline process for Development how the unmet housing need will be Oxford Station Interchange and Gateway accommodated through the planning system fulfils the LEP objective of improving infrastructure for growth and jobs. The project supports Network Rail’s Capital Programme for Control Period 3. It also supports the delivery of Evergreen iii and The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 59

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the Vision for the West End of Oxford (AAP). This project would not only strengthen This project will help secure the significant Science Vale Oxford’s strategic rail links proposals for the regeneration of the Station but reinforce many of the other actions area and major redevelopment of the Oxpens proposed in this strategy with a relatively site, including potential provision of incubation small LGF ask to help deliver this £25m facilities, business and tourism services, development. In addition to the investment and help support development and future in the track and services discussed as part economic success of the Westgate Shopping of Connectivity we consider it imperative Centre and supports significant transport that these investments are complemented and public realm improvements across the by rebuilding the station building, which is city centre. There is already interest from currently dated, will not have the flexibility major developers and funders however this to deal with the expected growth in project for the Station site, linked to Oxpens, passengers and does not provide a fitting has the potential to act as a catalyst to trigger sense of arrival and will diminish the success the wider redevelopment of the West End of the other investments in the area for Area; which includes development proposals example the £54m investment on the deferred by Christ Church College. gateway site opposite the station.

Didcot Station – Interchange and Gateway Culture, Knowledge and Skills Exchange Development Centres in Oxford and Didcot Significant investment both in the track Both of these Knowledge and Skills Exchange and services as well as in the function of centres would form part of the wider town the station itself as a gateway has been centre developments. secured. These include improvements are Oxford is under-performing in relation to already planned including electrification retail and this has been reinforced in a of the line from Paddington is due to be number of independent assessment. There complete by 2016, Heathrow Western Rail is a significant lack of presence and scale link will bring major reductions in journey of major retailers for whom the city and time and convenience from Didcot by 2021 its catchment profile are one of the most and East West rail will link Didcot and Milton attractive in the country. Yet, the city has Keynes, with onward access to the north dropped significantly in the national retail west, and will ultimately create a direct rankings over the last decade. There are service to Cambridge. Work is also soon to effectively no vacancies in retail premises in be completed to improve the forecourt of the retail core and turnover of premises is Didcot station. well below national averages All these changes are very positive, but do In the case of Oxford it would complement not of themselves exploit the full potential the wider inward investment of the £400m to transform Didcot into a strategic railway Westgate development, which will create hub, with a station that benefits an 3,400 net jobs and will capture higher spend internationally renowned centres of science levels from the 9 million visitors that come to and innovation. the City each year. 60 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Countywide Investment - Innovative Place

Highlights of the scheme include: However, in both cases more can be done. A small investment from the local Growth Around 70 new shops, anchored by a • fund will extend both developments positive 10,000 sq m John Lewis department store impact further in line with the objectives • New cafes, restaurants and leisure uses of both place and in relation to skills and • A new roof top terrace with views over people in this plan. the city The creation and exchange of knowledge is A two storey basement car park • an essential part of our economy and there • New cycle parking are growing expectations that everyone • Between 27 and 122 new homes should be able to contribute to and benefit • Retention of the existing Oxford Central from a knowledge-based society. These Library centres aim to improve awareness of the opportunities available in the local economy. Didcot acts as a key gateway for Science Vale but currently does not provide the facilities, Initially it will provide advice and guidance legibility or sense of place expected for an to those wanting to benefit from the area home to international science facilities investment in the Westgate and Orchard and businesses. To support this growth Centre –whether this is skills development Didcot town centre is being redeveloped as of business opportunities. But research plays a multifunctional social centre, capitalising a crucial role in informing the development on its excellent road and rail networks and of new ideas, practices and business models its role as the gateway to Science Vale. and in building entrepreneurial capacity. The knowledge and Skills Exchange will The first of the development was the £50 grow to create a public space that facilitates million first phase of the Orchard Centre interaction between research, people and opened in 2005, including the Cornerstone the economy to realise significant benefit Arts Centre, Cineworld cinema, and dozens where individuals and businesses: of new shops. A second phase of this development will be an additional £125 • ‘Know where to go’ to ask for applied million investment. In addition, will be the research, business growth skills training mixed use development at the gateway site • Have applied research and support between the station and the town centre. services available under one roof; rather This development will levy £54 million than being referred to different locations inward investment and include high quality or being referred to a range of virtual landmark buildings that will offer irresistible services opportunities and experiences that do not Will be familiar with the location and exist elsewhere in Science Vale. The master • feel comfortable in an open access plan for this new town centre recognises environment that allows networking and that successful towns are about much more collaboration, than shopping. They are about enjoyment, creativity, learning, socialising, culture, • Identify research that responds directly health and wellbeing and democratic to business needs engagement. The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 61

• Cultivate entrepreneurial capacity Conveyance Channel’). This new watercourse and facilitate new routes to market would allow water to pass through and opportunities around Oxford more efficiently, which would • Offer face-to-face and virtual support reduce water levels and backing up. The new for self-learning and self-teaching and watercourse would always contain water, but it will provide the bridge between the when there is a threat of flooding, control community and the world-leading gates would be opened to allow excess scientific communities. floodwater to bypass Oxford. If the water rises above the banks of the new channel, Oxford Flood Risk Management Strategy the channel’s floodplain would be utilised The Oxford Flood Risk Management Strategy to reduce the risk of water entering homes, (OFRMS) sets out a sustainable solution to businesses and disrupting transport links. reduce flood risk to businesses, essential transport infrastructure, people and The new channel would run within the area residential properties, while conserving and marked by the red boundary line shown in enhancing Oxford’s special environment. the map below would reduce flood risk to Within the Strategy’s study area there are the Abingdon Road, Botley Road, Osney area more than 4,300 properties that are at risk of and the Railway Line. When fully completed, flooding. protect up to 2120 residential properties.

Elements of the OFRMS have already been Upstream flood storage scheme, delivered with the Environment Agency Oxford City investing £2.5 million on short term flood risk In addition to the wider flood management measures. Since the summer floods of 2007 strategy we are looking funding towards a they have carried out channel improvements flood relief scheme in Oxford City. This is a on the city’s river system and have installed £1.9 million project with £1.3 million local culverts both at Willow Walk in West Oxford, authority funding secured to protect 279 to help prevent water building up near Botley residential properties at significant risk of Road; and at Redbridge, to increase the flow flooding of water through south and west Oxford. Demountable flood barriers have also been The project involves the construction of provided for Osney Island and Hinksey Park. two surface water holding areas, one at These measures helped to reduce flood the Northway Centre playing field and risk to homes and businesses during the the second at Court Place Farm Park. The 2012/2013/2014 flood events, however scheme will increase the city’s capacity to given the severity and increased frequency of address flood risk and would create 0.3 flooding events we must do more. hectares of new water-dependant habitat. Not addressing the issue of flood risk to the In addition to the works and programs existing properties has potentially harmful already completed, we are developing the social and economic effects, and may impact OFRMS, including the feasibility of building upon development planned in the area. an Oxford flood relief channel (‘Western 62 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Countywide Investment - Innovative Connectivity

Our aim is to create Our Local Growth Fund Offer Our Local Growth Fund Ask the conditions that make Deliver a c£815 million integrated transport £200 million contribution to delivery our integrated Oxfordshire the improvement programme across Oxfordshire offering transport improvement programme across location of choice new, direct strategic public transport connections. Oxfordshire.

for the world’s Work with DfT & TSB Transport Catapult to test bed Flexibility in the allocation of funding to support leading science smarter network management. targeted project delivery. and technology businesses. A rights of way network providing strategic Accelerate the A34 Highways Agency Route opportunities to develop integrated sustainable Based Strategy incorporating County Council led transport routes linking communities, economic development work that identifies our strategic centres and the natural environment. network investments for the period 2015-2020 period.

£20 million contribution to East-West rail western Early delivery of the Western Rail Access to Heathrow section Improve accessibility of international scheme (WRAtH) in advance of the projected 2021 connections through direct rail connections from completion. The Knowledge Spine to national hubs and airports and reduced congestion on strategic highway links, £11 million to support the development of the particularly the A34. OXybeles (Smart Solutions) programme.

We will deliver a maximum journey time of 30 £200,000 per annum to 2020 to jointly fund the minutes across the Knowledge Spine, with a minimum annual costs of £2.57 million for the research team frequency of public transport services of 4 per hour. and the equipment needed to develop a test bed an innovative project 5G mobile broadband pilot - We will deliver a c£65 million broadband investment building on the unique strengths of Greater Thames programme. Valley LEP universities and establish this area as the place for business to invest in Mobile Broadband and Continued support to test bed new technology and aligned technologies. approaches including data, transport systems and 5G mobile technology. The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 63

Countywide Investment - Innovative Connectivity

Objectives: Transforming connectivity across and into Oxfordshire is critical to underpin the spatial Our objectives are to: aspirations that deliver the innovation based • Improve accessibility of international growth. Our approach combines targeted connections through direct rail investment in new infrastructure along with connections from The Knowledge information platforms and technology in a Spine to national hubs and airports and series of initiatives to deal with the identified reduced congestion on strategic highway emerging travel problems and changes in links, particularly the A34 travel behaviour. • Reduce the distance and barriers Economic growth inevitably will increase the between our core economic areas across need for trips, which will in turn increase the the Knowledge Spine through providing traffic on the roads across Oxfordshire and a minimum level of public transport growth in traffic across the Knowledge Spine services of 4 per hour and maximum and those travelling through Oxfordshire journey time of 30 minutes on strategic routes, particularly the A34, • Increase the capacity and improve will compound this problem. The resulting the efficiency and resilience of our increases in congestion, if not tackled, could local transport network by reducing seriously restrict economic growth and congestion on key highway links prosperity or threaten this trend altogether. • Spread the benefits of transport investment across wider Oxfordshire. Strategic interventions The development of a local “catapult” Targeted Capacity Improvements or OXybeles to provide a central point through which local authorities can Targeted capacity improvements will develop partnerships with Universities be supported where there are clear and business to develop innovative requirements for physical capacity shown to transport led approaches and technology be required to support the delivery of growth. that enhance services, manage Better managing our Road Network infrastructure more efficiently and Capacity and Reliability provide a basis for local business to address problems thus reducing burden Oxfordshire will be at the cutting edge on public sector finances of new innovative technology which will help better manage Oxfordshire transport • Explore the potential of 5G Technologies network. The best leading technologies will underpinned by the development at the be used to make traffic move more smoothly 5G Innovation Centre for Future Mobile and efficiently on existing roads across Communications and Internet Technology Oxfordshire, as well as opening up new ways • Increase connectivity between people for people to do business and access goods and the quality natural environment to or services using fast broadband connections, develop integrated sustainable transport and providing the flexibility to work or run routes linking communities, economic their business from home if they choose. centres and the natural environment 64 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Countywide Investment - Innovative Connectivity

Oxford Science Transit: Fully Integrated and Our ambition is that the Oxford Science Multi-Modal Transport System Transit will be a fully integrated public The transport system in Oxfordshire is being transport system that connects our centres considered as a whole and not by form of innovation and economic growth with our and function, we want a system that is fully universities; complementing the investment integrated and allows real choice for trip in our road network, it will ensure that the and connectivity requirements. The ability Oxford City Region is interconnected, linking to do this in an historic built environment employment, housing, retail, cultural and restrict this option, as well as the damage to leisure opportunities. habitats through land take, air pollution and Oxford Science Transit is at the heart of the noise could seriously affect Oxfordshire’s growth agenda for Oxfordshire. Our vision important environmental resources, which is for an integrated public transport system are some of the key things that mark the that is: area out as a special place to live and enhance the quality of life. • Developed and promoted as one system using a common branding that will be We will transform connectivity in the county recognised internationally as world class in a way that not only supports Innovative in urban/inter-urban transport systems growth along the Knowledge Spine, • Accessed by a single transaction, preserves its high quality environment, irrespective of the number of stages to but also will reduce the amount of carbon your journey, with cashless payment dioxide released by moving people and enabled through the use of the latest goods around the area. In addition, to make smart transaction technology the plans affordable and maximise the effectiveness of spending, we will focus on • Supported by integrated information the areas and people most likely to benefit systems that provide the traveller with particularly considering value for money informed choices and allow the operators and wider benefits. It will also provide the to manage the transport system as a basis for healthier lifestyles by avoiding whole in real-time the air pollution and noise that causes ill Our aim is that the user of the Oxford health while improving the opportunities Science Transit will have: and motivation to use more active forms of getting about. • A minimum of 4 trains per hour along the corridor linking our core rail stations, Transforming our infrastructure offer to providing fast connectivity across the business by developing and promoting our Oxford City Region, as well as building transport networks as a single co-ordinated, upon national investment in the rail multi-modal transport system – making a step infrastructure to provide faster trains to change in connectivity across our economic London, to the north, south and west area delivered through the Oxford Science Transit System. The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 65

Countywide Investment - Innovative Connectivity

• Our core rail stations – Bicester, Oxford • High quality, high frequency dedicated Parkway, Oxford, Culham and Didcot – bus connections providing fast, direct receiving investment to become ‘state connections from our core rail stations to of the art’ multi-modal interchanges our university campuses, the centres of and gateways through which existing innovation and economic growth businesses and investors can pass quickly • Our Park and Ride sites around Oxford and efficiently becoming true interchanges, with additional connections to our university campuses, the centres of innovation and economic growth • Free Wi-Fi access whilst travelling aboard an Oxford Science Transit service • In the longer term the re-opening of the Cowley branch line in order to develop a cross-Oxford rail service that connects areas of deprivation with new job opportunities • Improving our connectivity to international gateways – in particular to Heathrow Airport – which remains a key determinant of investment decisions for businesses operating in the global market • We will work to make London Oxford Airport our ‘city airport’ - with ease of access to private business aviation services and with a network of inter- regional air services to other European centres of business 66 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Countywide Investment - Innovative Connectivity

Changing Travel Patterns and Behaviour Census 2001 and 2011 journey to work data for Cherwell, South Oxfordshire and West Travel behaviour across the county varies, Oxfordshire districts reveals that car use which is why a balanced transport system is has increased from an average 61% (2001) required to support the requirements of all to 64% (2011). Although these figures are residents and businesses. still below national levels, this shows car Within Oxford, more people are choosing to use has risen outside of Oxford, so better walk and cycle to work; comparisons between inter-urban public transport, offering faster Census 2001 and 2011 travel to work data, for more comfortable journeys, and increased Oxford city residents, show a reduction in car capacity at Park and Ride sites, is likely travel has been achieved with more people to become increasingly important as the travelling to work by bicycle and on foot. Over county towns continue to expand. the same period, the number of households A combination of recent economic in Oxford city that do not have access to a recession, demographic factors such as the car or van has also increased. An increase in rise in personal mobility and the increased the student population will account for some need for personalised solutions, and the of the rise but it could also be a change in associated development of suitable relevant behaviour and cultural attitudes; evidence technology, has led to a focus in managing suggests that economically successful cities transport needs rather than the old ‘predict with high incomes and growing populations and provide’ ethos. have greatest reductions in car use. Good access to public transport, parking controls Learning from innovative work on integrated and the increasing cost of motoring will also transport systems and movement towards play significant roles. “complete mobility” Oxfordshire is quickly embracing this concept to ensure maximum The travel behaviour of workers living in the value for money from its transport county towns, such as Bicester, Didcot and infrastructure, and the LEP partners are Witney, is also significant, especially as a working on developing various projects greater proportion of workers living in these on journey planning, smart ticketing and areas are more likely to work outside of their Open Data to drive forward innovation in home town and travel along the Knowledge this area, this has informed the proposal of spine for work (based on Census 2001 origin- the OXybales smart solution project, which destination data). A similar comparison of will help to tackle these challenges using an Travel to work innovative R&D approach in a partnership data for Oxford between the public sector, businesses and the city residents Universities. We see this as underpinning the show a reduction connectivity investment, which will help to in car travel with drive efficient use of the enhanced network more people that we are seeking funding for while also in travelling to itself supporting the drive for innovation lead work by bicycle companies to develop in Oxfordshire and help deliver these ambitions. The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 67

Countywide Investment - Innovative Connectivity

Committed Schemes – Our Offer a wide range of services many already take for granted. Making sure that everyone has Super-Fast Broadband access to some form of broadband connection In August 2013, Oxfordshire County Council will boost business efficiency, streamline awarded a multi-million-pound contract to and reduce costs for businesses providing BT, marking the start of a two and a half- customer services and enrich leisure and social year programme to bring better broadband time. Almost everybody will benefit from this to thousands more homes and businesses major investment. in the county. The £25 million programme is made up of £10 million from the council, Further projects to deliver ultrafast £4 million from the government and £11 broadband in both the Enterprise Zone and million from BT. It will build on the existing Oxford along with public wireless across commercial footprint in the county at the Oxford through the super-connected cities end of the programme at least 90 per cent, project shows that there is already a public and provisional estimates suggest 92% of private investment of around £40 million in all premises will have access to superfast the county to provide a major broadband broadband speeds of 24Mbps and above by uplift to businesses. the end of 2015. We also have a willingness to deploy radio The deal will bring significant social and and/or 4G services where this provides the economic benefits to rural areas where best solution fit and OCC is exploring options broadband access may currently be slow. By with a national company willing to invest in stepping in to fill gaps not served commercially, leading edge 4G services within Oxfordshire, the County Council is ensuring that more and are confident this would enable an people can get online and take advantage of extension of broadband coverage with any additional funding available for this purpose.

1 The GTV6 (a collaboration of the Greater END USER-FOCUSED Thames Valley LEPs, i.e. Thames Valley Integrated with modern 2 lifestyles and evolving SEAMLESS Berkshire, Buckinghamshire Thames Valley, demands and expectations 3 Seamless transport is a VALUED Enterprise M3, Oxfordshire, Coast to Capital for personalised mobility physical and virtual options for people and integration which ensures Delivers trusted services and Hertfordshire) is worth £193bn or 14.4% goods. that have perceived value, a coordinated transfer of the national economy. Contained within It allows for informed between modes. allowing informed deci- decisions, is simple and sions that will make a its boundaries are over 330,000 businesses It is the creation of a difference. mode neutral. ‘zero-wait state’ where providing 3.1m jobs. The majority of high Information and communi- delay to the user, before, There is a transparent cation is the key interface during an dafter their value proposition and technology and ICT businesses are in the between the user and journey is minimised. simple flexible payment transport service as well as mechanism. GTV6 area and it is rightly seen as the ICT for personal connectivity. It provides an attractive capital of Europe; a truly global player. mobility package built on priorities, e.g. safety, We are collaborating on a shared digital comfort, environmental infrastructure and skills strategy that aims cost. to reinforce the Greater Thames Valley’s credentials as the most productive sub Complete Mobility - Providing Transport as a Service RAC Foundation29 region in which to run or establish a business in the 21st Century. 68 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Countywide Investment - Innovative Connectivity

The GTV6 intends to support the world- managing the transport network and leading 5G Innovation Centre at the University providing improved services to customers. of Surrey University, based in Enterprise M3 LEP area. This will enable the Greater Thames The Connected Digital Economy Catapult Valley to be the first to exploit the new (CDEC) have confirmed that they will be opportunities that 5G will offer. undertaking a project related to personal data, and would like it to be based in Oxford after Maximising Transport Data discussions with Oxfordshire County Council, The City Council and Oxford Internet Institute. The County Council is completing innovative This has further potential to enhance local R&D in the integrated transport sector as travel information through providing new part of a consortium behind a infield solution transport data and live data feeds. Integrated transport TSB project – this project is looking at ways to provide a major OXybeles enhancement to monitoring of traffic in and around Oxford providing a basis for better Innovation is essential to support the interactive traffic systems and providing development of local authority services customer focused travel information, such as and manage infrastructure. This is the pushed messages/directions via email, text, development of a local “catapult” or Sat Nav, social media, to travellers to help OXybeles to provide a central point through inform their journeys in real time and guide which initially Oxfordshire County Council them onto best least congested routes for and the City Council can use partnerships their journeys. with Universities and business to develop innovative approaches and technology that A mobile phone responsive Journey Planning will enhance services, manage infrastructure Tool for Oxfordshire has been commissioned more efficiently and also provide a basis to help people make informed decisions about for local business to solves problems thus their journeys and thus reduce congestion reducing burden on public sector finances. and environmental impacts from travel in the Building on work already established on TSB county. This will be a tool to support multi- projects, CDEC and other supported research modal journey planning both in advance of a projects the OXybeles will focus on Transport journey and in ‘real-time’ i.e. at the point in systems and Personal Data at the start – time at which a user wishes to travel. developing to broaden the scope over time.

The County Council is also working with It is also envisaged that the Open data Oxford’s Universities and the Oxford Digital hub which will compile big data and real Catapult to organise a Hackathon enabling time feeds e.g. transport congestion, will exploration of data to be used for traffic be hosted, which will provide a basis for management and smart transactions. The local business to utilise information to event will promote new ways of managing develop platforms to solve “problems’. traffic data, technically and commercially. Problem identification will also allow a This will promote new innovative and direct interaction with public using public commercially driven techniques for facing web presence, learning from early innovation in this area such as “Shift Surrey”. The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 69

Countywide Investment - Innovative Connectivity

The Centre will start through with a compatible with the overhead electrification combination of seconded and affiliate staff equipment. There are 22 road bridges that - hosted by one partner with the ambition will require parapet works to protect people to develop into a physical centre with a from reaching the 25kV AC overhead power Capital build to establish a place where local lines and alterations to the sidings north of business can be incubated and get direct Oxford station so they can handle the mix support from the core team/experts while of electric, bi-mode and diesel trains. When also working on tech/solutions that can be completed, most of the existing two and applied in a real “living laboratory” within three carriage Thames Turbo diesel trains Oxfordshire. which service local stations will be replaced by 100mph four carriage electric trains. The output will be innovative SME business These trains will provide extra capacity to development, new IP for both local business cater for future growth as they can run as 4, and the partnership, while providing 8 or 12-carriage trains. By 2017 Network Rail economic benefit through efficiency savings plans to invest £5 billion on modernising the to things like the local transport system. Great Western Main Line. Great Western Main Line Re-signalling and Intercity Express Programme: New trains Electrification Following completion of electrification along The Government has committed to the the Great Western Main Line, a new fleet of electrification of the Great Western Main 49 Intercity Express trains will be introduced Line to Didcot, Oxford and Newbury, Bristol onto services between London Paddington, and Cardiff. Prior to the electrification Oxford, Bristol and South Wales. taking place, the existing signalling along the route needs to be renewed to make it The fleet will comprise 308 carriages and a mix of five or eight carriage bi-mode (electric and diesel) sets and eight carriage electric sets. The bi-mode variant will be used on Network Rail services that need to run through onto non- plans to invest electrified routes, such as the Cotswolds £5 billion on & Malverns Line, and can be connected modernising together to form 10-carriage trains busy times. It is envisaged that fast services the Great will utilise a 5-car electric IEP, with 339 Western Main commuter seats, and services to Worcester/ Line by 2017 Hereford will use 5-car bi-mode sets, with seating for 279 (558 for a 10-carriage train) - this compares with 550 seats on the existing HSTs. The overall programme is worth in the region of £5.8 billion and expected to be completed by 2020. 70 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Countywide Investment - Innovative Connectivity

M40 J9 and M40 J10 Pinch Point Schemes The A34 M40 Junction 9 Wendlebury Phase 2 scheme will improve the A34 northbound approach and A41 exit/entry points at the M40 junction 9 roundabout near Bicester. These works are part of the national Pinch Point Programme. The works will cost approximately £6 million and are expected to be completed by September 2014.

A43 / M40 J10 Economy scheme includes closing the current M40 Southbound slip road from Padbury roundabout. This slip road will then be replaced with a new slip Didcot Parkway Station Interchange lane direct from Cherwell roundabout. A number of investments have been made in The improvements will ease congestion Didcot Parkway Station. especially at peak travel times, support economic growth, and improve safety. The • Refurbishment of concourse and estimated cost of these works is £1.3 million installation of ticket barriers – funded with a planned start date in September through National Stations Improvement 2014. Programme. Implemented in 2012 • New multi-modal interchange and A34 Milton and Chilton Interchange Pinch redevelopment of station forecourt – Point Schemes we are leading the redevelopment of the The A34 Chilton Interchange improvements station forecourt to create a multi-modal scheme will provide greatly improved transport interchange. Funding of £5.6 connectivity of the Science Vale Oxford million has been committed by the County Enterprise Zone to the national road Council and South Oxfordshire District network by providing full access to the Council. When completed, the station will A34(T) for Harwell Oxford Campus. The become a high quality gateway to Science addition of north facing slips at Chilton Vale Oxford, with improved interchange Interchange will provide confidence arrangements to enhance the sense of and reliability in the transport network, arrival in a major economic destination. incentivising further business investment in The redesign will cater for increased the Enterprise Zone. Direct access between demand for travel arising from significant the two Enterprise Zones of Milton Park and new housing and job creation Harwell Oxford, via the A34 will be achieved, • Didcot Parkway Passenger Facilities reducing pressure on the local highway – improving the waiting area, café and network. The north facing slips complement toilet facilities on platforms 2 and 3. the capacity improvements at Milton Works completed in 2013 Interchange which are currently in progress. The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 71

Countywide Investment - Innovative Connectivity

These works are part of the national Pinch The A40 is recognised as a key artery of Point Programme. The works will cost The Knowledge Spine and essential to the approximately £5 million and are expected gateway into Oxford. Our City Deal will invest to be completed by 2016. a total of £17.8m in highway infrastructure at the A40 Northern Gateway which will The A34 Milton Interchange schemes will deliver improvements to the strategic road convert the current junction (where the corridor and enable the employment and roads from Didcot, Milton Park, Harwell and housing development identified at Northern Wantage join the A34) into a ‘hamburger’ Gateway to come forward. style roundabout. This will support the development of new employment Access to Science Vale Oxford Enterprise opportunities in the Science Vale Oxford Zone Enterprise Zone and new housing in the The package of schemes proposed Didcot and Wantage & Grove areas. The collectively provides enhanced connectivity works will cost approximately £11 million of the Science Vale Oxford Enterprise Zone and are expected to be completed by 2015, to the national and local road network with a £5million pinch-point grant awarded by increasing the capacity and improving by the Department for Transport the operation at a number of pinch points A40 - Northern Gateway within the area. This will provide confidence and reliability in the transport network to The regeneration of Oxford’s Northern attract and secure business investment Gateway and the A40 approaches to Oxford in the Enterprise Zone and provide the will address a critical transport barrier to good accessibility required to attract high- the efficient economic functioning of the end employees for high-spec jobs. These area and to its potential for future growth. A schemes compliment the Milton Interchange programme of schemes to relieve congestion and Chilton Slips schemes on the A34 and deliver growth at the Northern Gateway Development site will unlock congestion Oxford Science Transit: Phase 1 along the strategic A40 east-west corridor Phase 1 of the Oxford Science Transit as around the north of Oxford, and enhance provides a strong platform to deliver the connectivity to the north-south A34 corridor wider ambition. The project focuses on one and remove constraints on the delivery of of the major pinch points in the Science the Northern Gateway development area Transit network Hinskey Hill Interchange: as well as reduce congestion constraints the A34 between Abingdon and south on development in the wider A40 corridor. Oxford and the access into Oxford from These include a new link road between the the A34 along the Oxford Southern Bypass. strategic A40 east-west route to the A44 and The scheme comprises an additional lane the A34 at Peartree Interchange. constructed into the verge of the section of A34 to the south of Hinksey Hill interchange 72 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Countywide Investment - Innovative Connectivity

– the section most frequently subject to Stage 1 will see a new service from Oxford to congestion delays – together with bus London Marylebone, operating via Bicester priority lanes on the slip road approach to Town and a new Oxford Parkway Station at the signal controlled circulatory roundabout Water Eaton – this will provide a range of together with a capacity enhancement new strategic public transport connections around the junction for all traffic and on the across this side of Oxfordshire: the works southern bypass linking the junction to Old involve upgrading the railway between Abingdon Road. Bicester and Oxford (including a new chord connecting two rail lines), a rebuilt and Infrastructure improvements at this enlarged station at Bicester Town, a platform interchange combined with committed extension at Islip, a new parkway station at investment on Hinskey Hill roundabout the existing Water Eaton Park & Ride and and Kennington will provide a key to two new platforms at Oxford station. unlocking the link between innovation centres in Science Vale Oxfordshire and Stage 1 Services are due to begin operating Oxford. Providing enhanced high quality bus between Marylebone and Oxford Parkway connections, direct services between hubs in summer 2015, continuing on to Oxford by and key centres of growth, linking seamlessly Spring 2016. into the rail network. Stage 2 will see the line extend to Bedford Science Transit package of Phase 1 and Milton Keynes, with services running infrastructure improvements will cost through from Reading via Didcot, and for the £13.017 million funded through a railway to be fully electrified as part of the combination of City Deal and County Council National ‘Electric Spine’ route. Passenger investment. services are planned to be operating by 2017, with the fully electrified railway to East West Rail: The Western Section follow. When fully open, the service will East-West Rail is all about connecting comprise two trains each hour from Reading people and connecting businesses, via Oxford and Bicester to Bletchley, with delivering significant economic, social and one continuing to Milton Keynes and the environmental benefits to Oxfordshire by other going to Bedford. There will also be connecting major centres of economic an hourly London Marylebone to Milton activity and growth. It will initially link Keynes service via Aylesbury to provide Reading, Science Vale Oxford (Didcot and a connection with trains to and from Culham), Oxford, Oxford Parkway, Bicester, Oxfordshire. Aylesbury, Milton Keynes and Bedford. The journey time from Oxford to Milton Building on the initial £250m investment Keynes and Bedford will be cut by 40-50% which has modernised the Chiltern route compared to travelling by road, with Milton through Oxfordshire to London (the Keynes reached in 40 minutes by East-West ‘Evergreen’ project), the western section of Rail. It is forecast that by 2021, over two East West rail is being delivered in two stages. and a half million journeys will be made The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 73

Countywide Investment - Innovative Connectivity

on East West Rail each year, removing 1.4 town and country within Oxfordshire, enable million car trips from the roads. East West a more competitive agricultural sector, and Rail will also provide direct connections bring more communities into the world of from key destinations within Oxfordshire on-line skills development. and beyond to Reading for fast connection to the new Western Access to Heathrow rail Oxfordshire has the means of using the service, linking Reading to Heathrow every existing BT contract where FTTC/FTTP is 15 minutes from 2021. Future development cost effectively extendible to more remote on this route may see potential for direct communities, this can be used to lever in services from / through Oxfordshire into match from local partners and BDUK against Heathrow. BT investment to widen the reach of the contract. We will also look to promote the Network Rail has recognised the potential use of the DEFRA £20miilion community for East-West Rail in enhancing the Strategic broadband fund for delivering superfast Freight Network, and for future regional/ broadband to the most isolated parts of cross country passenger services, with Oxfordshire. We will look to work with local service extensions beyond Reading to bespoke providers such as Gigaclear and Paddington – once the infrastructure Cotswold Broadband for solutions in suitable is in place, Oxfordshire’s connectivity is situations. constrained only by the capacity of the network. As much of this is being built as Western Rail Access to Heathrow (WRAtH) possible as part of the planning and design Rapid, reliable access to London Heathrow of the route. airport is critical to Oxfordshire’s economic success – both now and in the future. The Super-Fast Broadband Final 10% benefits of a western rail access to Heathrow The Better Broadband for Oxfordshire are to: programme will make superfast broadband • Improve business access to Heathrow available to an additional 64,000 homes Airport from Reading and Oxford – it is and businesses across the county by its forecast that the rail market share from completion. Oxford will increase from 4% to nearly 20% as a result of the faster journey – The County Council has committed £10m to equating to 250,000 new trips by rail the existing Better Broadband programme. each year The council is working with partners and • Improve workforce mobility within the local authorities to develop the approach Thames Valley for tackling the “final 10%”. BDUK have • Reduce traffic congestion on the M4, indicated that a further national pot of M40 and M25 motorways and the A4 £200million will be available to support this in 2015-2017. Options are also being Network Rail has announced that it has examined on the use of EAFRD, where developed proposals for a rail link from permissible, to make a significant difference Reading and Slough on the Great Western Main Line to Heathrow which will enable to addressing the growing divide between 74 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Countywide Investment - Innovative Connectivity

public consultation to begin. Network Rail an average daily number of vehicles to be considered four options for the link before unlikely to cause congestion. The wider proposing a junction between Langley and connectivity of Oxfordshire is seen as one of Iver stations and a 5 km tunnel to Terminal the features that have enabled the county 5 at the airport. Subject to a satisfactory to become one of the main powerhouses business case, agreement of terms with for economic development and growth the aviation industry and planning consent. in south-east England and one of the Network Rail could begin highways enabling springboards for continued success in the work at the end of 2016, with tunnel future. Failure to tackle the constraints enabling work starting in early 2018. The imposed by the A34 is expected to result in project could then be completed in 2021. complex and wide-ranging impacts, not least in relation to the potential for economic A34 growth. Forming part of a wider corridor connecting As traffic flows approach capacity, then there the Midlands and the South Coast, the A34 is likely to be higher susceptibility to flow through Oxfordshire connects businesses breakdown due to speed variability, incident with goods and services, and people with frequency is likely to increase and impact of opportunities. We have championed incidents is likely to become greater. This will improvements to the A34 as demand for in turn affect the local economy and ability movement along this transport corridor to attract business to the county. can exceed capacity - giving rise to traffic jams and unreliable journey times. We are An essential element to tackling the capacity working in partnership with the Highways issues along the A34 is addressing local Agency to prepare evidence on the movements. Our Oxford Science Transit Oxfordshire section of the A34, to support will provide a major upgrade in linkages potential future investment options for to alternative transports routes along the improving journey time reliability as part of knowledge spine, particularly the new the Agency’s Route Based Strategy process. Oxford to London route via Bicester and The Agency’s Solent to Midland Route the new East West rail which will run from Based Strategy, which includes the A34, is Didcot to Bicester then onto Milton Keynes. due to reach its conclusion in March 2015, This will be complemented by enhanced and its outcomes and recommendations interurban road based public transport will be considered in determining future routes. investments for the strategic road network. However successful public transport Traffic growth coupled with major planned measures are ‘there will continue to be a development of approximately 55-60,000 high number of car users, and there is a homes along the A34 corridor within pressing need to improve the strategic road Oxfordshire will lead to degradation in network – particularly the A34, which is the network operation unless action is taken, highest priority for the high tech business as part of Oxfordshire County Council’s community’, particularly so in its role as own A34 RBS a baseline summary table a strategic connection to international (See Appendix A4) shows that only the markets. Southernmost link section is running with The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 75

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Current estimates of traffic growth both million, and recommended that these nationally and locally suggest that the A34 solutions should be taken forward for will need enhancements if it is to enable the detailed feasibility work in partnership with Oxfordshire economy to grow as intended. the Highways Agency and forms an integral element to the Southampton to Midlands The initial solution assessment suggests a Route Based Strategy. combination of early quick wins with major intervention such as a new or enhanced route, with costs of £400 million to £800

A34 Route Based Strategy 76 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Countywide Investment - Innovative Connectivity

Local Growth Fund – Our Ask only, would improve a cause of major delay incident through reduced accidents and also A34 Improvements Phase 1 (including the shockwave, (caused by the dramatic Seacourt P&R) speed reduction to the online flow of The A34 RBS solution assessment proposed vehicles), that vehicles, particularly HGV’s, early solutions that can go through full can cause from entering and exiting below feasibility and design within the next 1 – 5 standard laybys. years, we have included an ask to use Local The LGF scheme will also look to provide Growth Fund support to deliver these increased capacity at Seacourt Park and quick win solutions ahead of HA funding Ride to intercept journeys into Oxford, arrangements being developed for the route. while linking into existing study looking Early projects include Ramp Metering at the future potential for new P&R sites – the report suggests this is suitable for in Oxfordshire. The project will deliver a feasibility testing on 10 slips (see table capacity enhancement of 500 spaces, taking below) without upgrade works to the ramp. capacity to 1300 spaces, while also upgrading Evidence suggests that this type of scheme the access into the P&R site to provide a can provide a journey time benefit of 5-15% quicker transition from the A34 to the site. for the A34 link sections they merge onto, and downstream average speed increase Oxford Science Transit - A40 Public of around 7%. This would take some links Transport Enhancements below “red” peak time congested level, City Deal investment will kick-start the effectively increasing their capacity by Oxford Science Transit proposals. The aim managing flow onto the A34. of the Local Growth Fund support will be to expand science transit and support the The report also found that all laybys are linkages into the knowledge spine. currently under DMRB standard and there have been 14 personal injury accidents, one Science Transit A40 is an ambitious scheme proving fatal, between 2008-2013 within to deliver major enhancements to the A40 the vicinity of A34 laybys with at least nine strategic route between Oxford, Northern accidents clearly associated with entering or Gateway and Witney. This schemes will exiting the laybys. Layby upgrades and re- provide direct support in delivery of 3,000 designation, possibly as emergency refuge homes around Witney that rely on the A40 as well as supporting the Northern Gateway LOCATION North-bound (Slip South-bound (Slip flows) development and direct access to 5,000 jobs Flows AM PM AM PM at this site from West Oxfordshire. The A40 suffers from major delays due to congestion Pear Tree – A44 146.5 369.5 622.5 968 and poor journey time reliability, with peak Botley – A420 418.5 514 155 279 time journey time taking 50 to 60 minutes Hinksey – A423 365.5 936 685.5 850 and off peak journeys as little as 25 minutes. Lodge Hill – A4183 314.5 328.5 - - Marcham – A415 141 184 601 727.5 New development will increase the number Milton – A4130 818.5 680.5 41 158.5 of trips on this corridor by approximately Chilton – A4185 189 295.5 816.5 192.5 2,000 peak trips by 2030 further increasing Suitable A34 junctions for consideration for the problem. This Science Transit project ramp metering (highlighted in green) aims to provide dedicated space for public The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 77

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transport along the most congested part of off carriageway cycle route on the B4477 the A40, this will provide a reliable public to provide a cycleway from Witney to transport route between Witney and Oxford Carterton/RAF Brize Norton to enable safer and delivery of a consistent timetable journey cycling. Upgrade the B classification road to of 35 minutes even in the peak. It is expected an A classification, including signage review. that this will attract existing A40 users to use Provision of west facings slips at the A40/ the service and will be a major attraction to B4477 junction to upgrade this to an all new employees and residents using the A40. direction interchange to provide a single junction for access to Carterton/RAF Brize Improving Access to Carterton and RAF Norton especially for freight. Brize Norton The predicted impact of this project are: to Carterton is the second largest town in mitigate the planned growth for Carterton West Oxfordshire with a population of by improving access on the main corridor about 16,000. Its rapid growth has been between Carterton and Witney/A40; provide associated with nearby RAF Brize Norton, a single primary route into Carterton and now the county’s only air transport and RAF Brize Norton particularly for freight, air refuelling base for the armed forces. which will reduce traffic through the villages Development plans for Carterton include of Brize Norton, Shilton and Curbridge; serve 1,850 new homes. The recommended RAF specific journeys, particularly freight; scheme includes improving the capacity and while also providing a new opportunity for alignment of the B4477 to provide a single commuter cycling between Witney and primary route into Carterton and RAF Brize Carterton/RAF Brize Norton. Norton from the east and implementing an

Witney to Oxford AM Weekday Peak Journey Time Delay (mins per mile) 78 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Countywide Investment - Innovative Connectivity

Local Growth Fund, Supported East-West Rail: The Central Section Schemes – Our Ask In parallel with the more advanced work on the Western Section, the East West Rail Didcot Station Consortium has been continuing to review Generating inward investment relies on a number of alternative routes and work is accessibility and worker mobility will bring under way to re-establish definitive routes major reductions in journey time and between Bedford - Sandy - Cambridge, with convenience from Didcot by 2021. There additional options for introducing a link remains a need for further improvements and interchange with the East Coast Main to the station to enhance the economic Line. These aspects are currently being competiveness of the Science Vale Oxford evaluated with particular emphasis on the area and cope with the growth in population link between economic activity and potential and rail patronage. Improved connectivity growth as impacted by possible new is important for economic and business improvements to public rail transport links. growth, and we would like to see: Crossrail • More Main Line services calling at Didcot Parkway station - four trains in each Crossrail will transform travel across London hour to/from Bristol (1 via Bath Spa and when it opens in 2018. The network will 1 via Bristol Parkway), Cardiff (1) and connect 37 stations, including Heathrow Cheltenham (1) Airport and Maidenhead in the west with • Reintroduction of Cross Country services Canary Wharf, Abbey Wood and Shenfield is important to business in the Enterprise in the east, but the effects on existing train Zone and will provide direct access to services will extend far beyond the capital. Birmingham International Airport and the For Oxfordshire, Crossrail brings potential new North of England – without the need to journey opportunities but also some concern change trains at Oxford which is a major about the continuation of existing services. We deterrent given the proximity of the will use all reasonable endeavours to protect motorway network. These direct trains existing commuter services. were withdrawn in 2004 • Inter-regional service west of Didcot There is uncertainty about local services Parkway east of Reading. In a worst case scenario the existing through services from Henley- Transformation of the role and branding • on-Thames would be withdrawn, with of Didcot station so it ceases to be an passengers required to change trains at en route parkway and becomes a major Twyford, and possibly again at Maidenhead. interchange hub and gateway for the Crossrail extending to Reading allows four Science Vale area trains an hour and could then free one of The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 79

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the existing stopping services from Oxford The A34 RBS work shows that the current to be diverted to Gatwick Airport, thereby network is at or near capacity and while providing new connectivity with the Brighton short term options will help alleviate some Main Line avoiding the need to travel across issues a solution for the whole length of London. We therefore strongly support the A34 in Oxfordshire is required. We are the extension of Crossrail to Reading, and seeking a commitment from DFT and the HA Reading’s role as an interchange hub for the to bring forward a full feasibility study for Thames Valley. whole length capacity upgrades to the A34 ahead of the completion of the National RBS A34 Route Based Strategy Nationally next year so that funding and delivery for Funded Highways Agency Improvements the solution could come forward in the next We will continue to work closely with the funding period. Highways Agency on this wider Route Based Strategy, and look to ensure feasibility is taken forward on major investment proposals following the Route Based Strategy conclusions in 2015 and in turn access into the £15 billion Highways Agency’s investment fund for 2015-2020, this will be essential in delivering and maintaining into the future the above trend growth that Oxfordshire can deliver. 80 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Bicester

Bicester is the second largest town in Enterprise One of the fastest Cherwell district. The town is a historic growing areas in Bicester is one of the fastest growing market centre and has strong links to the Oxfordshire - with economic centres in the county. Its military, with Bicester Garrison located major growth plans economy is focused on storage, defence and in Ambrosden. Bicester is home to A high level of out- distribution activities, food processing and approximately 31,000 people and is one of commuting - many engineering. Major employers include the the fastest growing areas in Oxfordshire. It of Bicester’s more Ministry of Defence, BGP (Printing), Fresh has excellent road links via the A34 and the highly qualified Direct and Paragon Fleet Solutions. residents commute M40, and rail links from its two stations to out to work. There Oxford, London Marylebone, High Wycombe Of the 13,000 jobs in Bicester over 60% is a need for more and Birmingham. are accounted for B5 sectors: retail (20%), high quality jobs to wholesale trade (14%), other business be created locally Bicester has major ambitions for activities (12%), education (8%) and health growth through the development of the Relatively poor and social work (7%). skills attainment internationally recognised Bicester Village levels compared to Shopping Centre, the recently completed Bicester Village retail development is a Oxfordshire and the £70m town centre redevelopment and the significant UK tourist attraction, drawing wider South East, proposed North West Bicester Eco-town. in over 5.8 million visitors a year, including which need to be Plans are for it to play a key role in the many from overseas. It benefits from good addressed by better education and economic growth of the county given its rail connections with London. The presence training provision advantageous location on the transport of the Bicester Village has placed the town network which connects the town with on the international map and given the town A lack of readily Oxford, Science Vale Oxford and the wider a stronger retail offering than would be available land and modern business south-east region. expected in a centre of this size. premises, which With its major growth plans, Bicester is a Local firms have identified that there is deters inward investment and significant anchor of the knowledge spine currently significant growth potential, has resulted in and becoming an increasingly significant particularly in the manufacturing sector, some growing firms location in the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, but this is being frustrated by the lack leaving Bicester in new opportunities are arising from for an of high quality sites and premises. order to find larger increase in science and technology based The availability of land for commercial premises businesses and exploiting innovations and development is very limited and firms read spin-outs from academic research. the existing stick of commercial space as dated an unattractive. As a result Bicester is losing the kind of high quality forms that it needs to attract and retain.

The Cherwell Local Plan31 will enable employment development on allocated sites, with the aim of creating a The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 81

Bicester

diverse economy that attracts growth Bicester will be able to take advantage and investment from the business, of both materials engineering and manufacturing, science and hi-tech sectors. biotechnology in its economic future, 155 hectares of land for employment uses thanks to its location and the strength of (B use class) has been identified and land those sectors already nearby. In addition, to provide approximately 15,000 jobs as these become more established the (including retail jobs on town centre sites) breadth of the towns’ knowledge economy at Banbury and Bicester. Employment sites will increase to encompass other areas of include the Bicester Business Park and innovation and creativity. Examples are in South East Bicester which between them the motorsport engineering strengths of will introduce up to 7,000 new jobs. This will Banbury & Bicester College in Bicester and be supported by commensurate housing connections to local industry. Great potential development and the Local Plan also seeks exists for local Universities to lead in, for to strengthen the town centre to ensure that example, the transfer of green technology the town centre is vital and viable, and able (Oxford Brookes University) and materials to co-exist with Bicester Village in a mutually engineering (University of Oxford’s Begbroke productive way) and create additional green Science Park) in Bicester and across the and recreational space. The challenge is for whole district. Bicester to become a more attractive work location for many of its more-qualified and higher-earning residents.

Bicester

Oxford - 12 miles, London - 64 miles 31,000 people, forecast population +28% (2006 to 2016) 13,000 jobs, +10,000 planned job growth 82 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Bicester

Providing the foundations of growth Bicester extended Town Centre is looking to encourage: • Retailers and visitors to Bicester Town Centre • Green technology and the knowledge based sectors, exploiting its position in • Promotion and expansion of Bicester the Oxford/Cambridge Corridor Village where complementary to improving the Town Centre • Utilise the Ex-Ministry of Defence (MoD) land and facilitate the establishment of a • High tech companies modern logistics hub for the MoD • Higher value distribution companies • Maintain and increase the motorsport • Sustainability and self-sufficiency industry and other performance engineering • New opportunities for additional retail, leisure and cultural activities in an

Planned development in Bicester The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 83

Bicester

People The Bicester locality is one of the few areas in Oxfordshire, outside of Oxford City, that The population of Bicester Town is expected has a relatively low percentage of over 65s, to grow by 28% between 2006 and 2016, even in the rural parts around Bicester town. higher than the Oxfordshire average. In the more rural parts, as with other rural Overall deprivation in the locality is low, areas across Oxfordshire, the more sparsely but three parts of Bicester are among populated areas of Launton, Fringford, the 20% most deprived areas nationally Caversfield and Ambrosden and Chesterton in terms of education skills and training. have relatively poor access to housing and Educational attainment in Bicester has services. improved in recent years although it is still below the county average. By Oxfordshire We are fully behind SEMLEP’s bid for SFA standards, a high proportion of the working capital funds to support Banbury & Bicester age population has no qualifications and College’s capital scheme. A new build on the a relatively low proportion degree level south side of Broughton Road will enable the or equivalent qualifications. Bicester has introduction of a new vocational curriculum some excellent specialist training provision and the expansion of an existing curriculum – most notably in motorsport – however in to meet growing demand and deliver the whole training rates in the district fell essential vocational skills development to between 2006 and 200932. support economic growth. The scheme will provide essential facilities from which to Unemployment in Bicester is relatively low deliver emerging construction, engineering compared to Banbury and Oxford, and is and the key sector skills development below the national and county averages. demanded to sustain economic growth; Unemployment in the Bicester hinterland is reduce NEETS and develop a skilled and considerably below the Oxfordshire average. entrepreneurial workforce. 84 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Bicester

Place The development of Bicester is centred on Eco-Bicester, a strategy to effect a town wide The Local Plan proposes 7,000 new homes transition to a low carbon community as a by 2031, and a further 3,500 new homes by result of the new eco-town at North West 2040. Around 2,700 of these homes have Bicester. The strategy looks to: already been completed33. The Local Plan acknowledges North West Bicester capacity • Attract inward investment to provide for at least 5,000 new homes of which environmentally friendly jobs and around 1,800 are anticipated during the Plan commerce, especially in green period although it does not preclude a faster technologies delivery rate. The Local Plan identifies 122 • Improve transport, health, education and ha of employment land at Bicester within leisure choices while emphasising zero the plan period. carbon and energy efficiency Bicester town has relatively low house prices • Ensure green infrastructure and historic compared to Oxford. In October 2010 the landscapes, biodiversity, water, flood median asking price for a house in Bicester and waste issues are managed in an was £220,000, below Oxford at £275,000. environmentally sustainable way

ECO Bicester Ambitions The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 85

Bicester

Case Study: Bicester Eco Town – An Exemplar In Innovation In Sustainable Development

Bicester Eco town provides a showcase for the most environmentally friendly housing sustainable living and allows government, associations with a Bronze in the Sustainable business and the community to work Homes Index For Tomorrow (SHIFT) Awards. together to deliver greener, low carbon living. The project focuses on innovation The eco development will act as the trigger in sustainable growth and the transition for a town wide transition to a low carbon to a low carbon economy both in new community and attract inward investment development and the existing town. in the emerging low carbon economy. It is estimated that over £1 billion of investment The proposed eco development will take could be attracted to the town through place on a site approximately 345 hectares proposed developments. (800 acres) North West of the existing town. It will deliver up to 6,000 homes and jobs Bicester, as one of the major growth towns to eco town standards and will create a Bicester, as one of the major growth towns high quality living and working environment in the country, is expected to substantially comprising forty per cent green space. expand as the eco town and other associated The lead developer is one of the country’s projects are delivered. The proposed leading providers of housing and services, eco development will establish a strong A2 Dominion Housing Group Limited. A2 sustainable construction sector with the skills Dominion has been recognised as one of and supply chains to support it.. 86 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Bicester

Connectivity which tackles the challenges identified in the Bicester Movement Study which included: Enhancing access to the strategic transport network and making it easier for people to • Significant out-commuting from Bicester travel between homes and jobs is critical to Oxford, London and elsewhere in accelerating and accommodating future • Main movements are largely between growth in Bicester. Investment in core the residential areas to the west of the transport infrastructure will boost the town and the employment areas to attractiveness and desirability of Bicester centre and east of the town, particularly as a place where businesses want to locate at Launton Road and in the town centre and grow, and where people want to live Large demand for retail and particularly and work. The ambition for Bicester is • leisure trips outside Bicester to provide highway infrastructure which effectively reduces current and predicted • Key networks for public transport within transport congestion in Bicester, to ensure the town centre currently congested Bicester is attractive for inward investment • High potential for local trips by walking and supports the delivery of both housing / cycling across the town with a high and employment lead development. It is percentage of walking trips identified for essential to provide high quality access to non-work related journeys in particular the strategic highway and railway network to • A good base sustainable transport secure business investment and encourage network, with a network of walking and people to make Bicester their home. cycling routes to the eastern and western edges of the town along with a circular Walking levels are relatively high across the route following the perimeter roads town, (as the second most popular mode of travel after driving), with pedestrian trips • Varying attitudes to sustainable modes being particularly high in the areas closest to of transport, with support for positive the main employment sites and being lowest measures to encourage cycling and in the new residential areas to the southeast public transport, although demand and west (which are closest to the main management measures less popular road network). Surveys undertaken as part Our updated Local Transport Plan local of the Travel Behaviour Demonstration work area strategy has identified a series of identified over 40% of all journeys throughout improvements to increase the overall capacity the day being less than 3.0km (1.86 miles) of Bicester’s transport networks and systems, in length, suggesting that there is potential enabling them to accommodate the additional for a large proportion of local journeys to be trips generated by development; to adapt carried out on foot or by cycle. to their cumulative impact and to mitigate The transport priorities within Bicester are the local environmental impact of increased to provide the connectivity infrastructure travel. It is expected that the majority of these improvements to be fully funded by development in and around the town. The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 87

Bicester

Case Study: M40 Junction 9 and Bicester Remote Park & Ride

M40 Junction 9 The proposals at Junction 9 of the M40 include widening the A34 northbound carriageway approach from 2 lanes to 3, then to 4 lanes at the roundabout, traffic signals will also be introduced on the A34 northbound approach. The A41 northbound exit will be widened from 2 to 3 lanes and the A41 southbound 2 lane carriageway will be remarked as 3 lanes in advance of the junction.

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Bicester Remote Park & Ride A new park and ride facility serving Bicester will open by December 2014. The 500-space facility will allow drivers to avoid traffic around Bicester Village shopping outlet and on the A34. 88 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Bicester

Committed Schemes – Our Offer Committed Schemes – Our Ask East West Rail: Bicester Town Station will Banbury and Bicester College - Campus be rebuilt with two platforms, to allow Redevelopment reinstatement of double track. The platforms Given the significant scale of growth will be extended for 8-car long trains, and planned in Bicester, we recognise the need new station buildings constructed. Level to invest in Bicester’s further education access will be provided throughout, together infrastructure. We will continue to explore with improved links to both the town centre with Banbury & Bicester College and SEM and Bicester Village LEP the feasibility of a new build on the Bicester Park and Ride: a new park and south side of Broughton Road to enable ride facility serving Bicester will open by the introduction of a new vocational December 2014. The 500-space facility will curriculum and the expansion of the existing allow drivers to avoid traffic around Bicester curriculum to meet growing demand Village shopping outlet and on the A34 and deliver essential vocational skills development to support economic growth. Western Section of Peripheral route: This The proposed scheme will provide essential section is now delivered and provides access facilities from which to deliver emerging to N and West of Bicester which support the construction, engineering and the key delivery of 2500 homes and access to future sector skills development demanded to development in NW Bicester sustain economic growth; reduce NEETS and develop a skilled and entrepreneurial M40 J9: (See Strategic Offer and Case Study) workforce.

Bicester Peripheral Road Route Improvements Bicester Peripheral Road Route Improvements will make these routes more attractive to employment and longer distance traffic and thereby reducing the strain on the town centre and central corridor. It is estimated that this scheme will cost approximate £22 million with some sections directly delivered by development. The scheme will have a major impact on journey times across the Bicester network, predictions suggest that compared to a “do- minimum scenario these improvements will provide a journey time benefit of 9 minutes across just the key routes in Bicester, based on growth to 2030, if a higher level of growth is delivered this rises to 13 minutes journey time saving. The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 89

Bicester

London Road Rail Crossing and Charbridge Walking and Cycling Connectivity Project Lane Rail Crossing There is also a strong ethos within Bicester It is important to accommodate proposed on strengthening the town’s walking, strategic rail initiatives, including East West cycle and bus networks to ensure good Rail and plans for electrification, and a links to local employment opportunities possible future Rail Freight Interchange, and amenities within the town, as well as in order to strengthen Bicester’s position transport hubs, this Walking and Cycling on the national rail network and maximise Connectivity project, will lay the foundation access to regional economic centres, of upgrading the network across Bicester to such as Milton Keynes. With the level of allow the new developments to access into service anticipated to deliver East-West a high standard non-motorised transport rail, improvements are required to both network this scheme will be important in London Road Rail Crossing and Charbridge supporting the Bicester Eco-town ambitions Lane Rail Crossing as both current crossings of delivering a development with reduced are at-grade and would provide major traffic impact and one that promotes delays forecast up to 20 minutes per cycling and walking and is fully connected to hour. Charbridge Lane Rail Crossing is also Bicester Town. essential to deliver the peripheral route journey time savings. Without this project These schemes provide an important the crossing could potentially neutralise platform for the wider transport plans for the benefits of the peripheral route Bicester and will be critical to attracting enhancements. employment growth, especially for the peripheral development sites. Effective Work with Network Rail on a solution transport links between the residential for London Road is underway and it is areas, employment sites and other facilities anticipated that a pedestrian and cycling will facilitate economic growth, and grade separated crossing will be delivered provide more opportunities for people to in early phases. The peripheral route live and work in Bicester, thus reducing enhancements allow for a review of the the current level of out-commuting. The solutions at London Road by relieving the reduction in the length of people’s journeys use of this route into the town centre, this provides opportunities for them to use will be developed as part of the continued non-car modes of travel. Complementary detailed studies. investment in the town’s bus, walking and cycling network will have an essential role in accommodating growth, encouraging sustainable travel choices, and raising the quality of the environment. 90 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

Oxford

The key engine Oxford of growth for 152,000 people the Oxfordshire economy and a 24% are full-time students national economic (highest proportion in asset England and Wales) One third of 111,000 jobs Oxfordshire’s employment is 40,000 people commute in Oxford but the into the city for work density of businesses 9 million tourists is below the national visit each year and regional average Least affordable High levels of in- city in the UK commuting - half the workforce are drawn from outside the city. There is a need to improve physical Oxford City is the key engine of growth for The city is located in the heart of the infrastructure the Oxfordshire economy and a national county, housing world class universities, to cope with an increasing economic asset. The city contributes £4.7bn research facilities and businesses that create demand, and virtual to the UK economy each year and has a an epicentre for the regional economy. infrastructure to GVA per capita of £30,800 - the fifth highest Located on the A34 and A40, Oxford is easily reduce the need to GVA per capita of any city in the UK and accessible for the rest of the Knowledge travel significantly higher than the national average Spine and to London, Southampton, Heavily constrained of £20,300. Birmingham and international airports, housing supply - including Oxford Airport 7 miles north of the developing more houses within/close One of the key reasons for the city’s success city centre. is its diversity. Oxford is an international to Oxford will reduce the pressure on brand, a global seat of education, learning Oxford’s historic core, ancient village centres existing transport and research, a centre of engineering and and Victorian suburbs contribute to its status infrastructure and scientific excellence, a world leader in as an internationally recognised historic improve housing affordability automotive and advanced manufacturing, city. The nationally significant status of publishing, health care and life sciences these areas is reflected in their designation An overall high job and an iconic tourist destination. This as conservation areas, the high proportion density and highly skilled population diversity has helped Oxford remain resilient of listed buildings and scheduled ancient but a large social throughout the global economic recession. monuments and registered parks and gap that needs to be gardens. Approximately 9 million tourists addressed through visit the city each year34 to visit a world- provision of more affordable housing, renowned city and its surrounding county. and investment in education for all The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 91

Oxford

Enterprise from academic and research expertise. Oxford has strong links to its academic Oxford is a successful economy and institutions and wider research community, a successful place with a long history and the city houses more than 100 publishing as both a centre of educational and businesses providing over 3,500 jobs. Oxford scientific excellence, and as a prominent University Press, the university’s official manufacturing centre. Oxford has a world‐ printer, is a global leader in academic and class university and is an important location research publishing. Other significant firms for national and international innovation include Pearson Education, Wiley, Blackwell, and research. Oxford benefits greatly from Macmillan, Osprey (military history), Hart the presence of the two Universities, Oxford (law), and Lion Hudson. A major shift is University and Oxford Brookes University. The underway in Oxford’s publishing houses from two Universities have a significant economic printed to electronic delivery, especially in the impact on the city. Higher education in academic and specialist sectors. For example, Oxford accounts for approximately 21,800 70% of Oxford University Press’ revenue jobs, or 19.6% of total employment, and the now stems from electronic material. There indirect economic impact is undoubtedly far is also some cross‐over with the digital and bigger. The role of the Universities generating computer games industry. spin‐out companies and knowledge transfer partnerships (KTPs) which create commercial Oxford has a very high level of employment value from academic and research expertise. within knowledge intensive sectors There is real potential for Oxford to drive (accounting for around 71,200 jobs, growth through the transfer from knowledge equivalent to 64.3% of total employment to wealth. The city is a leading focus for in Oxford). This is a key strength for the city business enterprise and entrepreneurial and Oxford companies in several knowledge activity in the region and nationally. Between intensive sectors ‐ automotive engineering, 2004 and 2010 the number of active life sciences and biomedical research and businesses in Oxford increased by 9.3%, publishing compete very effectively in global significantly faster than surrounding areas markets., Oxford is home to a cluster of and Oxfordshire overall (6.5%), the South acute and specialist medical organisations, East (4.6%) and England (6.2%) over the which together employ around 14,400 same period. For Oxford to continue to grow, people, or 13% of the total workforce, and it will be important to retain and support support a further 2,700 jobs indirectly. existing companies, as well as attract new A recent report found that the sector businesses, entrepreneurs, start‐ups and spin accounted for around £20m in local supplier out companies. This will involve collaboration purchases per annum. These assets provide within the city and across the county. significant support to healthcare research undertaken at the universities. Oxford The universities will continue to play a University’s plans to expand medical and significant role in generating spin‐out clinical research will create more demand companies and knowledge transfer for such links and further strengthen the partnerships, which create commercial value synergies between the two areas. 92 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

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Supporting the diverse business base of of a cluster of motor sports companies the City and wider county is a range of in Oxfordshire and in Northamptonshire. professional service businesses, which Growth of some of the smaller businesses employ over 10,200 people in the city. The will be accommodated in the city itself major professional firms, such as legal and specifically on land near the BMW site. accountancy, are positioned to provide a lower cost base than London practices as People well as compete for local business. There With 110,900 jobs in Oxford, equivalent are large companies in specialist sectors to 72.2 jobs per 100 residents12 the including market research firms SPA Future city has a high jobs density, reflecting Thinking and A.C. Nielsen that provide direct Oxford’s importance as a regional centre support to Oxfordshire’s growing industries of employment. There is a very significant and make the county an all-inclusive hotbed amount of in‐commuting into the city, of research and innovation. particularly from other parts of the county. Almost half the city’s workforce commutes But Oxford is more than just a research from surrounding districts. Moreover, the based economy. It has a strong and diverse city’s rail connections are used by those economic base which includes some very living in the city and nearby to travel to high profile manufacturing activates. Oxford jobs in London and the Thames Valley. sits at the centre of a £6bn automotive This underlines the important two way cluster, which has been dubbed ‘Motorsport relationship between the city, adjacent Valley’, providing 4,871 jobs, or 4.4% of total districts, and the rest of the county. employment. BMW are a major industrial employer and their Plant Oxford at Cowley The majority of employment in Oxford accounts for nearly half of citywide industrial is concentrated in three main locations: space. According to BMW, 80% of Minis are central Oxford (including the retail centre exported, playing an important role in the and Oxford University), Headington UK’s exports and balance of trade. In 2011, (including Oxford Brookes University and BMW announced that it would invest £500m the hospital campuses) and the old Cowley in its UK operations over the next three works (including BMW, Unipart and Oxford years, most of which would be invested Business Park). in Oxford as the Cowley plant is reaching its capacity of 240,000 vehicles per year. Despite being generally prosperous, Oxford This demonstrates that with progressive has local concentrations of deprivation support the city can capitalise on economic which can be masked by wider averages: growth opportunities. More recently, BMW 12 of the 85 Lower Super Output Areas have announced the creation of 1,000 new (LSOAs) in the city are in the 20% most jobs building on their previous investment. deprived LSOAs in England, with one LSOA Many motor manufacturers encourage the in Northfield Brook ward being amongst clustering of key component suppliers. There the 10% most deprived LSOAs in England. is some potential for the future growth In general, the south and east of the city this sector, Oxford is located in the heart is relatively more deprived than the north The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 93

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and centre of the city, with Blackbird Leys, Place Littlemore, Barton and Sandhills the areas Successful places help to create successful of relatively high deprivation. Relative low businesses. There are economic benefits wages and absence of sufficient affordable to be achieved from ensuring the vibrancy housing provides a barrier to attracting of City is enhanced. Investment in new business and attracting the right mix infrastructure to combat congestion will of labour to work in Oxford’s enterprising enable businesses to improve their market economies. competitiveness. Similarly, maintaining Overall Oxford has a very highly skilled and enhancing the environment and social workforce. In 2010, 53.7% of Oxford infrastructure of Oxford will ensure it residents aged 16 – 64 held degree level remains an attractive place to visit, invest qualifications or higher, much higher than in and do business. The strong sense of in Oxfordshire (40.3%), the South East place and heritage in Oxford is a key feature (33.9%) or England (31.1%). However, whilst of the area’s economic appeal; equally the proportion of working age residents the functions, social fabric and physical with no skills in Oxford (9.6%) is lower infrastructure is vulnerable and investment than in England (11.1%), it is higher than in is needed to secure the City’s future Oxfordshire (8.7%) or the South East (8.5%). competitiveness and attractiveness.

Oxford has below average educational In Oxford the housing market is overheating attainment amongst young people in because of the lack of available housing state schools. Pupils in Oxford perform land and complexities of land assembly. significantly worse than the regional and Overcrowding is above regional and national national average across all age groups. At averages Oxford and the City is now widely GCSE level, 67% of Oxford pupils attain five recognised as the least affordable place or more A* to C grades compared with in England. There is insufficient supply 75.8% across the South East and 76.1% of housing in Oxford, which is acting as a across England as a whole. Oxford also has barrier to growth and exacerbates housing relatively high rates of unauthorised absence affordability issues. Lack of available housing from school and higher proportions of land and complexities of land assembly persistent absentee pupils at both primary prohibit the city to grow and force house and secondary school level. prices up. Oxford is tightly constrained in terms of flood risk and the historic built The disparity between the city-wide trends environment, which means that it is difficult and more localised realities indicates that to fulfil the housing demand. In order to Oxford performs highly in terms of jobs and fulfil Oxford’s housing needs confirmed skills, but requires investment in education in the Oxfordshire Strategic Housing and connectivity to narrow the gap between Market Assessment, the Oxfordshire job opportunities and the labour pool, and local authorities will consider options for deliver opportunities for all. addressing the City’s need, which will 94 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

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include consideration of a strategic review of alongside the financing of these projects the Green Belt policy around the City, which that need to be overcome for the area to currently limits its expansion. meet its growth aspirations.

The delivery of an adequate supply of Business productivity improvements are a homes to meet a range of needs is a pre-condition for a stronger City economy. major challenge for Oxford. The housing Infrastructure provision that enables requirements of the City can only be investment in new business space is delivered through sustainable urban important, whether in traditional business extensions. Sites of several thousand homes park locations, innovation centres or science have been identified Error! Reference parks or, increasingly, “space-less” growth source not found., but often have significant through home-based working and in shared infrastructure requirements that need “work hub” spaces. In particular Oxford to be in place during the early phases of needs to develop the physical infrastructure construction, or before properties are even for advanced manufacturing and knowledge built. There are issues around delivery intensive growth linked to its particular opportunities in science led research.

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Connectivity employees to have a choice of travel modes, and reducing reliance on the private car. Accessibility and connectivity are key An emerging Transport Strategy for the enablers of growth and prosperity. City developed by the County Council The compact nature of the City’s will highlight the role of enhanced cycle boundary means that without effective networks. Around three-quarters of Oxford’s communications between settlements, residents in employment work within the it is difficult to maximise the benefits of city, and Oxford residents travel on average businesses working together and getting less distance to their place of work than enough people to work in the business residents of other towns within the county. located in the City. Over 25% of workers The inherent sustainability of Oxford is commute into the City. Similarly, our tourism illustrated by 2011 census data which economy is dependent on the quality and shows that more of its residents travel to reliability of transport access from other work by cycling or walking than by driving parts of the country. But we are not well a car. Infrastructure projects that improve served by road and rail links. The A34 has accessibility to and from the city are clearly significant capacity constraints, the A40 is no important to support economic growth, but longer fit for purpose and the road network if Oxford is to fulfil its ambitions to become around the City is woefully outdated. an exemplar low carbon city there is also a Given that the requirement for increased need to invest in projects that improve the connectivity to national and international safety and convenience of travel within the markets and resources is likely to represent city by foot, cycle and public transport. a key means by which the City can improve A particular challenge for the City is the its long term economic performance, both disconnect between development sites the physical and virtual infrastructure to and existing areas of economic activity enhance the capability of businesses in and housing caused by the River Thames the area to connect externally (i.e. outside bisecting the City. Construction of a the local economy) must be put in place. quality bridges across the River Thames Improved external connections that could for cyclists and pedestrians at Jackdaw bring improved levels of economic growth Lane and at the Oxpens site would achieve must be balanced with negative impacts on significantly improved access to the West the capability for internal connection, as End and wider City centre from the east manifested by high levels of congestion and and greatly accelerate the regeneration of long journey times. the West End and Oxpens. It would also Local Transport Infrastructure plays an ease congestion, and improve safety and important role in supporting economic flexible non-car access on key corridors growth, through minimising congestion in and around central Oxford. Achieving and unlocking land for development of superfast broadband connectivity will be employment and housing. Improving access essential in providing efficient collaboration to employment and essential services by between research and businesses, support providing infrastructure which will enable existing and new ventures and providing 96 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

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the population with better access to job Oxford station will be the focus of significant opportunities. It can also relieve the strain redevelopment and is a major opportunity on the transport network by facilitating to deliver a first class multi-modal remote working. A county-wide scheme has interchange that meets the aspirations of been committed to, but further investment the city and supports economic growth in Oxford’s broadband will be required through improved connectivity. to maintain national and international competitiveness. The resilience of major transport networks is a key issue for the economy of Oxford which The A34 that connects Oxford with the is currently vulnerable to disruption on rest of the Knowledge Spine and south strategic road and rail transport networks. to Southampton, the A40 and local This is a particular concern given the trend road network throughout the city have towards more frequent incidences of significant capacity constraints and suffer extreme weather, particularly intense rainfall from congestion. Balancing public and and consequent flooding. The disruption private transport and peak commuting and loss of business caused by the flooding flows into the city will require increasingly in Oxford, as well as Didcot, which severed sophisticated management and investment. mainline train links to London and the rest of the UK, is a recent example of this. The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 97

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Committed Schemes – Our Offer continue to invest in research, continue to develop innovative products and services, Oxford City is uniquely placed to contribute and continue to focus on global markets. to the growth of the LEP and national This growth will be further enhanced by new economy. Oxford already has a strong companies starting up and spinning out from strategy in place that will: the Universities. • offers unique strengths which can But Oxford’s growth aspirations – and those provide the foundation for further of the LEP - will not be realised without growth addressing the serious constraints imposed • faces significant barriers to growth which by Oxford’s infrastructure. Workable must be overcome solutions must be found to accelerate the • has the opportunity to ensure that in pace of house completions – including future all of Oxford’s residents can better allocating additional sites, ensuring that share in the benefits of economic growth there is a long term supply of land to In contrast with many other areas Oxford accommodate employment growth, and offers immense strengths and the city’s on-going investment to improve the diverse economy provides a strong performance of the transport networks foundation for growth. Oxford’s Universities serving the City. and companies compete very successfully There are already a number of projects in world markets. Oxford City is the engine underway that will unlock the growth of growth for Oxfordshire and the wider potential of the City. subregion with a high proportion of the county’s employment based in the city. Hinskey Hill and Kennington junctions Growing the city’s knowledge economy (Science Transit Phase 1) will be driven by the two Universities, Improvements to Hinksey Hill interchange Oxford’s large private sector employers, and Kennington roundabout have been and existing smaller science and technology identified as the first phase of Science based companies. These Universities, and Transit and provide critical improvements companies, often working together will in access into Oxford as well as providing a reduction in congestion on the ring road and A3435. 98 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

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Local Sustainable Fund Projects Local Growth Fund Ask The LSTF programme for Oxford includes the Headington Phase 1 following elements: The package of transport schemes to • London Road bus lane extensions: Access to Science, Health and Innovation following consultation we are now is an essential element to supporting the looking to improve bus priority on the Bioescalator element of the City Deal approach to Green Road Roundabout package. to link up with existing bus lane from The Headington scheme will provide Thornhill P&R, anticipated start of enhanced connectivity to Oxford’s medical, construction in January 2014 science and research cluster in Headington • New bus services: Three new – an area that includes the Bioescalator, Headington Connect bus services and existing University of Oxford Old Road started operation in September 2013: Medical Research Campus, Headington 700 Kidlington - Water Eaton P&R – Hospitals, and Oxford Brookes University – Summertown - JR Hospital - Churchill both improving access by public transport Hospital; 800 Thornhill P&R – Headington and the operation of the local highway - JR Hospital; and 900 Thornhill P&R - Old network, focusing on key junction upgrades Road Campus - Churchill Hospital. The for public transport services. services are operated by Stagecoach Oxford Oxford Station - Interchange and Gateway • Walking and cycling improvements from Development Thornhill to Headington: pedestrian/ Oxford Station was used by 6.3 million cycle path from Thornhill to Green Road people in 2011/12 compared to 5.8 million Roundabout completed April 2013, Green in 2010/11. Over the next few years, a huge Road Roundabout to Nuffield Orthopaedic programme of investment is planned for the Centre and Churchill Hospital anticipated railway infrastructure in and around Oxford completion Spring 2014 including electrification, re-signalling and • Travel planning – promoting travel the opening of new rail routes, which will choices for Headington residents and provide new journey opportunities. employees: started Spring 2013 We are working in partnership with Network Rail and DfT to develop a wider masterplan for the Oxford Station area that makes provision for future growth on the railway, achieves transformational change in the passenger environment and a vastly improved passenger experience. Along with multimodal interchange facilities at this primary gateway to Oxfordshire, the work will ensure that the new station The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 99

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and surrounding development forms an • improves wayfinding inspirational entry point to the city and • facilitates multi-modal interchange presents a world class image to investors opportunities to ensure seamless and visitors. It also complements our integration with strategic and local planned investment in Frideswide Square transport networks (see below) and contributes to wider • enables high quality architectural and transport benefits across the city centre urban design A masterplan for improved station and • dovetails with planned wider interchange facilities with associated development appropriate commercial development to To meet operational demands for provide an exemplary gateway into Oxford 2. expected rail growth over the next 30 City centre is currently under development. years and offer an improved passenger The site area includes the Oxford station experience, helping Oxfordshire deliver area, forecourt and Becket Street car economic and housing growth. park. The work links closely with the Frideswide Square redesign scheme and 3. To act as a catalyst to encourage wider also the redesign of Botley Road Bridge to regeneration in Oxford address the increased number of tracks and underbridge highways issues including • Maximising appropriate commercial and road width and segregation of pedestrians/ economic development opportunities cyclists/vehicles for improved safety. • Providing a focus for investment Key Objectives of the Masterplan are: • Positively impacting on land values To be deliverable, flexible and represent 1. To provide an exemplary gateway to 4. Oxford that: good value for money, protecting and enhancing revenue streams. • emphasises key links with the city centre and reinforces historic street patterns Following completion of the masterplan, and character an architectural competition is planned to design a concept for the station building, and the City Council will prepare a Supplementary Planning Document for public consultation during 2014. Detailed design of Frieswide Square is underway with delivery commencing in 2015. The injection of significant capital funding through the LEP will enable more timely and comprehensive delivery of this scheme that will have a greater stimulus on the sub-regional economy and the growth of the Oxford area 100 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

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Oxford Station Interchange and Gateway West End Area; which includes development fulfils the LEP objective of improving proposals deferred by Christ Church College infrastructure for growth and jobs. The project supports Network Rail’s Capital Oxford City Transport - West End Programme for Control Period 3. It also The regeneration of Oxford’s West End is supports the delivery of Evergreen iii and an ambitious project set to revitalise the the Vision for the West End of Oxford (AAP). western quarter of the city centre, creating This project will help secure the significant an environment that properly reflects the proposals for the regeneration of the Station area’s historic and social value. Oxford’s area and major redevelopment of the West End has just entered an exciting Oxpens site, including potential provision of stage in its evolution with several major incubation facilities, business and tourism regeneration projects coming forward services, and help support development and simultaneously: the Westgate Centre, future economic success of the Westgate Oxpens, Oxford Station and Frideswide Shopping Centre and supports significant Square. transport and public realm improvements across the city centre. There is already • The transformation of Frideswide Square interest from major developers and funders from a cluttered, congested junction to a and this project for the Station site, linked to welcoming and imposing public space is a Oxpens, has the potential to act as a catalyst key priority for the West End Partnership to trigger the wider redevelopment of the and Oxfordshire County Council

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Transforming Frideswide Square is a key priority for the West End Partnership and Oxfordshire County Council.

• The redevelopment of the Westgate Westgate Knowledge and Skills Exchange Centre and surrounding areas, including Retail needs assessments undertaken by the Bonn Square, Queen Street, New Inn City Council has consistently concluded that Hall Street and St Ebbe’s Street, is a key there is a significant under supply of retail platform of the regeneration of Oxford’s provision in the city with many residents West End. Plans see the existing centre (of the city and county) preferring to travel significantly extended and refurbished, to Reading, Swindon, High Wycombe or delivering new shops, restaurants, London for their retail and leisure activities. cafes and public areas within an open Every independent assessment undertaken and vibrant shopping environment, has shown that city centre retailing is under- connected by a series of public spaces performing and there is a significant lack and pedestrian-friendly streets of presence and scale of major retailers for • The Oxpens site, between Oxford whom the city and its catchment profile are Railway Station, the Westgate Centre one of the most attractive in the country. and the River Thames, represents one Yet, the city has dropped significantly in the of the most significant development national retail rankings over the last decade. opportunities in the city centre and There are effectively no vacancies in retail has the potential to make a valuable premises in the retail core and turnover of contribution to the life and economy of premises is well below national averages. the local area and Oxford as a whole Recognising this Land Securities has permission for a £400m investment to refurbish and extend the Westgate Centre with work planned to start in 2015. It is a conscious investment decision by the 102 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

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private sector to create a step change in the to be a world class, knowledge driven City at retail and leisure activity in the City. It will the heart of the LEP. The current Library and help rebalance the outward migration of public realm create a poor first impression of retail activity. Increased retail provision will Oxford. The redevelopment of the Westgate not only attract actively from the resident Centre and surrounding areas, including population. As a major tourism destination Bonn Square, Queen Street, New Inn Hall an increased retail and leisure offer in the Street and St Ebbe’s Street, is a key platform city centre will capture high spend levels of the regeneration of Oxford’s West End. form the 9million visitors that come to the Bonn Square is one of the few public spaces City each year. Independent assessments in the centre of Oxford, and is located within suggest an addition 3,400 net jobs will be the historic core of the city, not far from the created by this investment. Castle and within the line of the medieval city walls. Continued investment in Public Highlights of the scheme include: realm will continue the transformation of • Around 70 new shops, anchored by a Bonn Square and adjoining streets into a 10,000 sq m John Lewis department dynamic public space, which also respects store and enhances the history of the square and its historic setting. • New cafes, restaurants and leisure uses • A new roof top terrace with views over Working with the Private sector there is the city an opportunity to refurbish the existing • A two storey basement car park library and extend its service to create a ‘Knowledge and Skills Exchange’ that sits • New cycle parking within a welcoming and functional public • Between 27 and 122 new homes space. The Arts Council has set out number • Retention of the existing Oxford Central of priority areas for library development Library which have been tested and corroborated by Working in partnership with the LEP the stakeholders: developers are committed to maximising the place the library as the hub of the impact on the local labour market. A skills • community and employment plan is being developed that will equip local people to access the full • make the most of digital technology and range of construction, retail and customer creative media service careers that this development will • ensure that libraries are resilient and deliver. sustainable

However, more can be done. A small Refurbishment of the City Library into a investment from the Local Growth fund will Knowledge and Skills Exchange directly extend the Westgate development from contributes to these priories. Public good to great. The City Library and public libraries are trusted spaces, open to all, spaces adjacent to the Westgate Centre in which people continue to explore and need significant improvement and upgrading share reading, information, knowledge to align them with the ambitions for oxford and culture. The creation and exchange The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 103

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of knowledge is an essential part of • to establish public libraries as trusted our economy and there are growing centres of business support and expertise expectations that everyone should be able to that play a key role in local economic contribute to and benefit from a knowledge- growth, entrepreneurial activity and based society. The Westgate Knowledge and social mobility Skills Exchange aims to improve awareness • embed public libraries within their local of the opportunities available in the local economic and business infrastructure, economy. Initially it will provide advice and partnerships and networks and create guidance to those wanting to benefit from closer working with the British Library the investment in the Westgate centre and other Business & IP Centres –whether this is skills development of • create opportunities and improved business opportunities. But research plays sources of support for local economic a crucial role in informing the development growth, entrepreneurial activity of new ideas, practices and business models and employment for people of all and in building entrepreneurial capacity. backgrounds, including in the creative The knowledge and Skills Exchange will industries that will increase social grow to create a public space that facilitates mobility in the communities around them interaction between research, people and the economy to realise significant benefit Eastern Arc Transport Improvements where individuals and businesses: A package of transport measures to improve the highway network in the Eastern Arc – • ‘know where to go’ to ask for applied facilitating development in the Headington/ research, business growth skills training East Oxford area to key healthcare, business • Have applied research and support park and manufacturing sites in Cowley services available under one roof; rather close to the Ring Road. Measures will than being referred to different locations include improvements to the quality, speed or being referred to a range of virtual and reliability of orbital bus routes (including services developing new services), park and ride, • Will be familiar with the location and traffic and parking management to enable feel comfortable in an open access easier access and measures to encourage environment that allows networking and more walking and cycling and enhancements collaboration, to local junctions and mini interchanges. • Identify research that responds directly to business needs Oxfordshire Centre for Technology and Innovation • Cultivate entrepreneurial capacity and facilitate new routes to market This project develops a Technology and opportunities Innovation Training Centre in Oxford. The • Act as an open access forum project is located here due to (a) it invests heavily in a socially deprived area, Blackbird This development will build on the Leys (b) The new-build/remodelling project Enterprising Libraries pilot launched by CLG overcomes existing poor accommodation/ in 2013 that aims: outdated equipment challenges 104 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

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(c) Activate Learning own the land and Activate Care Suite current buildings/have capacity for The project rapidly grows the volume of new expansion entrants into the care industry supported by The project co-locates engineering, an exemplar industry standard innovative electrical, design, innovation with emerging teaching and support facility. This will bristle Technology, co-located to deliver the with current medical and care equipment local LEP and STEM agenda. Phase 1- operated in a real working environment. supports the development of training The facility responds to the well evidenced and learning opportunities in STEM and growth in the future volume of care workers new technologies; developing growth in in Oxfordshire, with particular focus on employer engagement, apprenticeships, private sector job demands in: Traineeships NEET engagement and skills to • Domiciliary Care meet well evidenced demand in Oxfordshire. • Dementia Care • Engineering, Electrical, Electronics, • Palliative Nursing Care Robotics, CAD/CAM and IT practitioners • Safe handling of medicines up to level 4 • Bespoke training for care assistants • Environmental technologies and Energy Management up to level 5 • Advanced apprenticeships • Construction and trades to Level 3 • Traineeships to attract new entrants into the sector • Up-skilling, return to work courses • Increasing apprenticeships / Higher City Centre for Conferencing and Leisure Training Apprenticeships The Tourism and Hospitality industry is a Phase 2 expands the Technology and growing sector and Oxfordshire is one of Innovation Centre to new areas key to the Britain’s most visited destinations. Meetings, development of Oxfordshire’s future jobs conferences and events are attracted growth. The centre will produce larger to Oxfordshire not only because it is an volumes of technician level workers, able extraordinary place to visit. The project to move between different technology and focuses on building the volume of skilled engineering disciplines. employees across the hospitality sector to enable businesses to respond to the Particular roles have been identified increased tourist, business and retail visitors (Levels 2 – 5): as a result of the future redevelopment in Oxford. Oxford city centre will benefit • Maintenance Technicians able to fault from having an accessible ground floor find /diagnose, fix & repair across multiple conferencing, eating and social space with skill areas: Pneumatics, Hydraulics, PLC an outstanding river frontage for both control, Electronics, Electrical, Mechanical, businesses and visitors. CAD/ CAM, Robotics A feasibility study evidences a capacity for • Electrical /Mechanical /Electronic/ a 60 cover restaurant alongside a business Specialist Technicians conferencing facility for 150 people • Science Laboratory Technicians The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 105

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supported by high specification IT multi use Android and IOS Apple phones breakout space. This facility will sit adjacent • Games and animation Development to a commercial wellbeing centre which • Programming (in particular languages to will specialise in sports injury recovery and support the sub-sectors listed above) rehabilitation, commercial hair and beauty salon. • Client Server Domain Networking • Social Digital Media & Marketing Employability through up-skilling and retraining local people struggling to access Upstream flood storage at Northway centre the employment market, and inspiring young playing field and Court Place Farm Park new entrants into the hospitality sector will be blended into the design of the facility. The Construction of two surface water holding commercial learning company model will be at areas. One at the Northway Centre playing the core of this project will develop technical field and the second at Court Place Farm skills, professional behaviours and leadership of Park. There are 279 residential properties all aspects of the hospitality and tourism sector at significant risk of flooding. The scheme including chefs, front of house, conferencing, will increase the city’s capacity to address event management and bar service. This flood risk and would create 0.3 hectares will in turn supply Oxfordshire with highly of new water-dependant habitat. Not skilled, work ready employees with evidence addressing the issue of flood risk to the of commercial experience. With its location existing properties has potentially harmful adjacent to the proposed John Lewis retail social and economic effects, and may impact centre, the college is well placed to support upon development planned in the area. The Visit Oxfordshire in providing the requisite skills City has already developed plans for the for the existing and future workforce to expand implementation of this scheme and only the success of tourism in Oxford.This project requires confirmation of the final element of offers the opportunity to create a unique funding before starting work. business, leisure and employability training complex in the heart of the city. Development of Oxford Knowledge eco- system Cloud & Digital Connectivity Zone The preparation of the City Deal and the The Cloud Connectivity Zone will bring commitment of the Oxfordshire institutions together business and potential employees to work together to a common innovation in an environment bristling with technology. agenda has provided a great impetus to It will deliver large volumes of trained the development of collaborative projects people into all sectors enabling them to be to stimulate innovation across the county. more efficient in their day to day business There are many projects under consideration through virtualisation. and development, many of which will come to fruition within the 5 year timescale. The The project sets out to provide rapid skill knowledge- and R&D- based institutions development of Cloud and Digital Skills in across Oxfordshire are working to develop a space containing with industry standard equipment and connectivity. This includes: our top priorities for investment to be incorporated into the SEP. As with the • Cloud technologies – Virtualisation innovation centres in the City deal, these will • Applications development ‘Apps’ for come with partial funding from universities, 106 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

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facilities and private sector partners to Centre for Agri-tech Development leverage the SEP funds, although the level of We are seeking support to build new commitment cannot yet be established, and plant growth facilities at the Begbroke generally will be contingent on the availability Science Park to provide key resources to of match funds from the SEP to make the engage effectively with the Agri-Biotech commitment of resources viable. industrial community. The Begbroke site We have included our highest priority projects provides an opportunity to design and build above the line in the attached spreadsheet, environmentally friendly and sustainable including some more aspirational, less- containment facilities. This would include developed projects to demonstrate the 1000m2 glasshouse, 2 acres land for farm breadth of our commitment. In reality, we trials, experimental preparation, head expect that our prioritisation may change house, cooled and humidity controlled seed over the next few years, particularly as private storage facility, and 500m2 hard standing sector collaborators make clear commitments area for equipment. of support. The requested commitment of resources We are conscious of the governments key to develop the proposed growth facilities sectors, as set out in the national industrial are necessary to enable impact both strategy, and of the importance of the eight nationally and internationally with the great technologies. We feel that the projects business communities within the agritech we have listed will play into the national and industrial biotech supply chain. The strengths and priorities that have been investment will expand the scale and developed by the government, and we seek application of research carried out, to to develop more projects that will contribute support the application of the research and to innovation-driven economic growth. provide a stronger proposition to apply for Industrial support in the future. Advanced propulsion centre Plant Sciences undertakes research at the To ensure that Oxford University and forefront of areas of scientific research vital companies from the Oxfordshire region to agriculture and related technologies. secure a major role as a spoke in the Modern plant growth research facilities at “hub and spoke” model of the recently this scale are key to supporting academia announced UK £1 billion “Advanced and industry in developing this science and Propulsion Centre” and initiative now technology. being completed across the UK by BIS’s Automotive Council. Oxford proposes to base its spoke on the internationally recognised research it undertakes in the three technology areas of (a) internal combustion engines (b) energy storage (c) electrical machines and power electronics. The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 107

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The largest Science Vale: concentration of research and Oxford - 12 miles, development London - 70 miles activity in Western 66,500 people Europe +20,000 planned Readily available new jobs flexible space, +20,000 planned support services and new homes skills for innovative businesses to flourish

High quality, reliable and sustainable transport infrastructure and services which meets the new needs and movement pattern from an increasingly high Science Vale Oxford is an area in the developed from a defence depot and has level of business southern part of Central Oxfordshire, become a home for growing science based and housing between the city of Oxford to the north enterprises, including a leading life sciences development and the M4 to the south. In World War 2 cluster. the area was home to defence bases which A labour pool with Milton Science and Business Park – part sufficient skills were subsequently developed into world of the Enterprise Zone and has delivered in engineering, class science research and development 100,000 sq ft of additional science space information establishments, and which now offer space since the EZ was launched. technology, for further expansion and commercialisation. mathematics and The site of Didcot A Power Station, which is science Science Vale Oxford has the largest being decommissioned, opens up another concentration of research and development An enterprise major employment opportunity of around zone that provides activity in Western Europe. In total the 60 hectares. business rates Science Vale Oxford area contains 13% of all discounts to research and development employment in In the west of the Science Vale Oxford area new businesses the south east (4% nationally). the world class Williams Formula 1 team until 2018 and has its home at Grove. At Grove, Oxford generates around The Harwell and Culham sites (260 and 80 Instruments plc, an early spin-out from £120m of income hectares) were both former airfields. Their for investment Oxford University, designs and manufactures occupants now include the world leading in Oxfordshire’s tools and systems for industry and research, Diamond Synchrotron (Harwell) and Joint infrastructure is a globally significant company, listed in European Torus (JET) nuclear fusion facility the FTSE 250 and employs 1500 people (Culham). Milton Park (150 hectares) was worldwide. 108 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

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Milton Park is one of Europe’s largest Enterprise multi-use business parks, hosting more The Science Vale Oxford area hosts some of than 160 companies which employ around the most innovative and prestigious science in 6,500 people in 3,400,000 sq ft of business the world and almost half the jobs in the area space. The concentration and diversity of are knowledge based. It has large assembled science companies at Milton Park make it sites with all the benefits of Enterprise Zone a genuine centre of excellence for research status. There are plans for over 20,000 new and development. Milton Park is home to jobs and homes in the area, with designated the Oxfordshire BioScience Network and it land provided for both. has just won £7m from government to build a new biotech innovation hub, the Milton Harwell Oxford is a science, innovation Science Centre. and business campus based in South Oxfordshire. A joint venture between the UK Atomic Energy Authority and the Science and Technology Facilities Council, and Development Securities/ Prorsus the private sector partner, it is responsible for developing the Campus into a vibrant community of scientists and technologists

Science Vale: LTP3 Update The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 109

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Case Study: World leading scientific projects at Harwell and Culham

ISIS REL

ISIS is a national facility for research into a broad range of REL is a private company formed to develop the technologies needed physical and life sciences, using the techniques of neutron for an advanced combined cycle air-breathing rocket engine class called scattering and muon spectroscopy to study materials at SABRE that will enable aircraft to operate easily at speeds of up to five the atomic level. ISIS supports an international community times the speed of sound or fly directly into Earth orbit. They have of over 2000 scientists who use neutrons and muons for achieved a breakthrough in aerospace engine technology by developing research in physics, chemistry, materials science, geology, ultra-lightweight heat exchangers 100 times lighter than existing engineering and biology. It is the most productive research technologies that allow the cooling of very hot airstreams from over centre of its type in the world, and has recently been 1,000 °C to minus 150 °C in less than 1/100th of a second. praised as innovative and world leading by an international panel. ISIS is owned by the Science and Facilities Technology Research Council

Diamond Light Source Milton Park’s Life Sciences Cluster

Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron Milton Park hosts nearly 50 life science companies, spread across science facility. By accelerating electrons to near light-speed, biotechnology, medical devices, contract and clinical research and Diamond generates brilliant beams of light from infra-red to associated industries. Many have grown on-site and have on maturity X-rays which are used for academic and industry research have become part of wider international businesses. and development across a range of scientific disciplines Evotec, a world leader in the discovery and development of novel small including structural biology, physics, chemistry, materials molecular drugs, employs 250 people on the site, 40% of its global science, engineering, earth and environmental sciences. It workforce. The story started when the fledgling Oxford Asymmetry is the largest synchrotron in the world powered by medium International moved into two starter units in 1991. They expanded into energy. The majority shareholder is the Welcome Trust. five more buildings and in 2000 merged with the Germany-based Evotec. Diamond employs scientists from 40 countries Oxford Immunotec developed a novel diagnostic test for tuberculosis JET which has now been approved in over 50 countries with rapidly increasing global sales. They employ 40 people on site. They started JET is the world’s largest and most powerful tokamak and originally in sub/leased space, have twice moved into larger facilities and the focal point of the Europetn fusion research programme. now plan to expand again. Designed to study fusion in conditions approaching those needed for a power plant, it is the only device currently Oxitec are the only company in the world to use genetically sterile operating that can use the deuterium-tritium fuel mix that insects to control insects that spread disease and damage crops – will be used for commercial fusion power. To take fusion avoiding the need for environmentally harmful pesticides. They employ to the next level Culham Science Centre has plans for a 40 people, a quarter from overseas. Originally a spin-out from Oxford design centre and materials and robotic handling research University, they have grown through venture capital and family finance. centre which would enable it to lead on Europe’s first fusion demonstration plant. JET is owned by the UK Atomic Energy Authority 110 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

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which is the biggest specialist community Harwell Oxford is a science, innovation of its kind anywhere in the UK. Over 4,500 and business campus based in South people work in 150 organisations including Oxfordshire. A joint venture between global key UK Research Councils, start-ups and property group Goodman, the UK Atomic multi-national organisations focusing on a Energy Authority and the Science and range of commercial applications including Technology Facilities Council, is responsible healthcare, medical devices, space, detector for developing the Campus into a vibrant systems, computing, green enterprise and community of scientists and technologists new materials. which is the biggest specialist community of its kind anywhere in the UK. Over 4,500 Opportunities for the continuing people work in 150 organisations including development of Harwell as one of the key UK Research Councils, start-ups and world’s leading research centres abound. multi-national organisations focusing on a New initiatives being developed include: range of commercial applications including • Industrial Applications Facility for healthcare, medical devices, space, detector Extreme Light: An international “first of systems, computing, green enterprise and a kind” dedicated facility for high power new materials. lasers that would offer unique and Milton Park is one of Europe’s largest bespoke capabilities to UK industry for multi-use business parks, hosting more non-destructive testing applications than 160 companies which employ around • National Science Centre – Harwell 6,500 people in 3,400,000 sq ft of business (NSCH): the first national science centre space. The concentration and diversity of in the UK engaging and enthusing science companies at Milton Park make it the next generation of scientists and a genuine centre of excellence for research engineers about science through the and development. Milton Park is home to provision of an unforgettable journey the Oxfordshire BioScience Network (OBN). through science, technology and Milton Park has recently received £7m grant discovery via the Enterprise Zone to develop a much • Sustainable Energy Research and needed bio technology innovation centre, Innovation Facility (SERIF): the creation the Milton Science Centre (MSC).. of a sustainable energy research facility Culham Science Centre is one of the UK’s to produce and test alternatives to fossil most prestigious research centres with a fuels for transportation and combined strong focus upon cutting-edge science and heat and power applications technology. Culham is owned and operated Research Village at Harwell: offering short • by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy and long term spaces and amenities to Authority; the centre is the home of the UK’s facilitate interaction between visiting fusion research programme, known as the scientists, be they PhD students, early Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE), career researchers, senior academics or and the world’s largest fusion experimental even Nobel Prize laureates facility, JET (Joint European Torus). The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 111

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Grove Technology Park has 25 companies in • Improve all connectivity, particularly its main buildings and a further 60 smaller transport linkages; road, rail, bus and businesses in its business centre. More cycling within the area and beyond, than 800 people work on the Park. Grove ensuring that the solutions are is home to the Williams F1 team which sustainable and coordinated employs around 520 people on a 40 hectare • Greatly accelerate the pace of house technology campus. Crown Packaging’s building and provide a better, more varied innovation centres are based in Grove. offer with attractive public realm and a Crown Packaging is a world leader in metal sense of place that appeals to people packaging technology with operations in 41 coming to work and live in the area countries employing over 21,000 people. • Provide ultrafast broadband speeds via Didcot is of particular importance: its station fibre to all science and business parks Didcot is of particular importance: its station (>100mbps) and SuperFast speeds is a key gateway to the wider area and (>30mbps) via wireless offsite around half of the planned new housing for • Make Didcot a more successful hub Science Vale Oxford will be located there. It for Science Vale, including town centre has strategic significance for the wider area, regeneration, redevelopment of the and great importance is attached to the station and gateway site, improvement development of its role as a transport hub of the new housing offer, public realm and to the creation of a high quality centre overhaul and image building and attractive place to live. • A heavily resourced, fully integrated, end to end education, training, and workforce The potential for job creation and growth in development programme in STEM skills is the area is huge, not just for the immediate required area, but for the benefit that it will bring to the wider Oxford City region and the UK • Ensure that the means are in place, economy as a whole. particularly finance and capacity, to ensure this is all delivered successfully For Science Vale Oxford to realise and effectively its potential the following strategic interventions are needed: The key public and private sector players in Science Vale Oxford recognise the scale • Ensure there is readily available flexible of development potential and the need for space, support services and skills for co-ordinated action to realise that potential. innovative businesses to flourish. In 2010 they launched the Science Vale • Place the Enterprise Zone at the heart of UK (later renamed Science Vale Oxford) Oxfordshire’s knowledge based economy, Partnership. focusing energy and investment there to In 2012 the Government awarded Enterprise hothouse business creation and inward Zone (EZ) status for Science Vale. This investment that will generate substantial applies to 92 hectares of the Harwell and income to enhance knowledge economy Milton Park sites. The main benefits of EZ growth across Oxfordshire status are discounts in business rates for 112 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

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businesses coming to the sites, and the People ability of the Local Economic Partnership Science Vale Oxford has an exceptionally to retain and invest business rate growth. high concentration of Research and Crucially it is possible to borrow against Development. It has leading clusters in future business rate income so that Space, Life Sciences, Advanced Engineering, supporting infrastructure can be developed and Cryogenics, with other strengths in in step with need, helping to create a Creative Industries (gaming, media and virtuous circle whereby businesses are publishing) and Energy and Environment. attracted to the area. About 18% of employees are in high tech The plans for the Enterprise Zone sites (including R&D) jobs, well in excess of the envisage the development of up to 200,000 proportions for Oxfordshire as a whole and sq m, providing at least 8,400 new direct the South East. jobs and yielding £10.5m pa in additional The Science Vale Oxford area is planned business rates by 2025. to provide 20,000 new jobs over the next In addition to the actions above the 15 years and these can be expected to be following actions will be taken to develop largely in these high tech sectors. A step the main business parks: change in workforce STEM training is needed to respond to this changing landscape. 40% • Master plans will be completed for the of Oxfordshire’s workforce are graduates, Harwell and Culham sites, which will second only to London, but there are skills be developed and managed to provide gaps at many levels in the knowledge a high quality campus environment economy appealing to innovative enterprises. Consideration will be given to the A training needs analysis for the Science introduction of a Local Development Vale Oxford area has shown that of currently Order for Harwell campus vacant jobs 65% require engineering skills • The pace of development on the and qualifications; 44% require IT-related Enterprise Zone sites will be stepped up, skills; 44% mathematical; 30% scientific. including through speculative building, Take-up of engineering and manufacturing consistent with market conditions courses by young people is particularly low compared to the number of jobs An Ultrafast broadband network will be • available. More than half of the companies delivered for both parks, together with a interviewed from this sector said they felt link between the parks and a 4G wireless training providers would struggle to support service giving Superfast speeds across their future training needs. the wider SVO area • A Science Vale Oxford Area Action Plan will ensure the longer term supply, particularly on the former Didcot Power station site, of high quality employment space that is attractive to knowledge based commercial enterprise The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 113

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Place Didcot acts as a key gateway for Science Vale Oxford but currently does not provide About 66,500 people live in Science Vale, of the facilities, legibility or sense of place which 25,000 live in Didcot, a former railway expected for an area home to international and defence town, 18,500 in the market science facilties and businesses. To town of Wantage and adjoining large village support this growth Didcot town centre of Grove and 22,500 in the surrounding is being redeveloped as a multifunctional villages, which have a high quality built and social centre, capitalising on its excellent natural environment and have kept their road and rail networks and its role as the own distinctive character. While these three gateway to Science Vale. A new town population totals are currently similar, that centre development will offer irresistible is changing fast. Didcot had a population opportunities and experiences that do not of only 15,000 in 1981, but is planned to exist elsewhere. The master plan for this accommodate the majority of new homes new town centre recognises that successful in the Science Vale area, giving a projected towns are about much more than shopping. population of about 50,000 by 2031. They are about enjoyment, creativity, Current plans provide for at least 15,000 learning, socialising, culture, health and new homes in the Science Vale Oxford area wellbeing and democratic engagement. by 2029, including 8,780 in major sites in A centrepiece of the new development Didcot and Harwell and 4,960 in major sites will be the, Culture, Knowledge and Skills in Wantage and Grove. Nearly two thirds of Exchange Centre where experts will help the the planned allocations are to be delivered community access organised information in and alongside Didcot, adding 50% to the and culture for employment and enjoyment. size of the town. The new housing supply It will offer face-to-face and virtual support is planned to peak at 712 completions in for self-learning and self-teaching and it will 2015/16, and will remain well above Didcot’s provide the bridge between the community current annualised delivery target until and the world-leading scientific community 2023/24. in Science Vale

Current plans provide for at least 20,000 Science Vale Oxford is located in an new homes in the Science Vale Oxford attractive natural environment and area by 2031, including in major sites in landscape in the heart of Oxfordshire and Didcot and Harwell and in major sites in offers an appealing mix of homes and jobs, Wantage and Grove. Nearly two thirds of across both rural and urban settlements, the planned allocations are to be delivered both historic and modern. It has heritage- in and alongside Didcot, adding 50% to the rich villages and immediate access to size of the town. The new housing supply beautiful riverside and downland. The is planned to peak at 712 completions in beauty of the natural environment and 2015/16, and will remain well above Didcot’s the richness of its heritage make a vital current annualised delivery target until contribution to a balanced lifestyle that 2023/24. forms part of Science Vale’s appeal and will help it to grow and thrive. 114 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

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Connectivity Strategic highways within Science Vale Oxford Science Vale Oxford needs to be served by high quality reliable and sustainable The Science Vale Oxford area sits astride the transport infrastructure and services, which: A34 trunk road from Southampton, which to the north links with the M40 (J9) and to the • Provide strategic connections to the south with the M4 (J13). wider UK and international gateways; The A34 is however at or near capacity Link the Science Vale Oxford area • even with existing traffic levels, and is too with Oxford’s Universities and other easily brought to a standstill by accidents. innovation centres in the city region; The two A34 junctions within the SV area • Connect the main employment and are due to be upgraded which will alleviate development sites within the SV area; some congestion but a more comprehensive • Contribute positively to the realm of the solution to the A34 capacity problems is main settlements in the SV area, and required. Didcot in particular; The road network within South Vale does • Cater for the anticipated growth in not reflect the employment and housing people living and working in the area. growth of recent years: the routes are

Currently proposed new housing sites The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 115

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not well aligned to connect the new Road access to Culham in the north- and emerging sites, and their capacity is east of the Science Vale Oxford area is being outstripped by the scale of growth. also constrained, in this case by the river Modelling by Oxfordshire County Council Thames. The only two routes from the indicates that 22 highway links and 10 traffic Didcot area cross narrow historic bridges junctions are operating at or above capacity, which are limited to one-way traffic. It is with a further 14 links and 42 junctions not practicable to widen or replace these forecast to be so by 2029. bridges, the effect of which would anyway be to move problems further north to the The main need is to improve east-west A415 from Abingdon. Rail and cycling are links so as to provide improved access for therefore particularly important. Wantage/ Grove and the Harwell Campus and to link both with Milton Park and the Didcot Station – strategic railway hub new housing sites to the west of Didcot. Strategic rail is in many ways the converse Given the polycentric character of the to road, the main strength being east-west. Science Vale Oxford area this cannot be The Great Western service from London tackled by a single fix, but needs a package Paddington to Bristol and the Wales has of measures to upgrade roads which were regular stops at Didcot. The north-south not designed for their current role, to Cross Country service from Southampton improve junctions and signals and in the to the Midlands and the north, however, case of new settlements to build some does not stop at Didcot so there is no limited new links. The precise design direct service and no interchange. This needs to take account of the changes to omission appears to be the result of track movements which will arise from the more configuration constraints which do not seem strategic changes to junctions with the A34. fundamental. There are no rail services to Cambridge or Heathrow other than via Central London. The consequence is the Destination Changes Time (mins) variable pattern of service shown below.

Some significant service improvements are Heathrow Airport T5 At Paddington 89 already planned. Electrification of the line Birmingham Airport At Oxford 89 from Paddington is due to be complete by Southampton Airport At Reading 72 2016, and this should improve journey times and quality. The Heathrow Western Rail link London Paddington Direct 43 will bring major reductions in journey time Reading Direct 15 and convenience from Didcot by 2021. East West rail will link Didcot and Milton Keynes Bristol Parkway Direct 43 by 2017, with onward access to the north At Paddington and Cambridge 148 west, and will ultimately create a direct Kings Cross service to Cambridge. Work is soon to be Science Vale Oxford strategic rail links (from Didcot*) completed to improve the forecourt of *Fast trains leaving at or near 8.00am Didcot station. 116 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

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All these changes are very positive, but do journey times but are well integrated and not of themselves exploit the full potential easy to understand. to transform Didcot into a strategic railway hub, with a station that befits an There is a compelling case for a series internationally renowned centres of science. of linked actions adding new direct services from Didcot to Cambridge, About 2.8 million passengers a year Heathrow, Southampton and Birmingham, currently use Didcot station. This is expected reconfiguring the track as need to achieve to reach 6 million by 2040 allowing for this, and rebuilding the station to allow natural rail growth and the added houses for projected growth and to provide a and jobs. Trains run from Oxford station to fitting sense of arrival. This would not only Didcot every 30 minutes with most taking strengthen Science Vale’s strategic rail links under 18 minutes, but this is not turn-up- but reinforce many of the other actions and-go frequency and Didcot does not at proposed in this strategy. present function properly as a transport hub enabling convenient onward travel to Public transport within Science Vale Oxford the main employment sites. There are also Outside Didcot the remainder of the Science insufficient buses services direct to these Vale Oxford area is dependant for public sites from Oxford. Travel by car can be transport on bus. There is a very good made difficult by the problems with the A34 shuttle from Didcot station to Milton Park discussed above, and distances are generally running every 10-15 minutes at peak hours, beyond easy cycling range. but services between the main centres are otherwise at 30 minute frequencies. With While many of the transport issues between larger concentrations of people in prospect Science Vale Oxford and Oxford are the both on the employment and housing sites, same as across Oxfordshire, there is a there is the opportunity to improve the particular economic need to ensure that frequency and attractiveness of services and public transport solutions are tailored and to create a habit where bus use is the norm. packaged so as to provide links from Oxford This is likely to need pump-priming financial that are not only offer good frequencies and support in the short run before full build out of the sites is achieved, and consideration needs also to be given to different business models ( for example the Milton Park shuttle is run by the business park not a commercial operator) and to the need for bus priority measures over other traffic. The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 117

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Committed Schemes: Our Offer City Deal Investment

Featherbed Lane and Steventon Lights Improvements: Harwell Innovation Hub: a facility focused on Highway and junction improvements to allow this promoting open innovation based at the Harwell route to be promote, reducing traffic through campus, home to “big” science facilities such as the Rowstock Roundabout. Diamond Synchrotron and the recently relocated European Space Agency and Space Catapult Centre. Wantage Eastern Link Road: A link Road from A338 at Mably Way to the A417 at West Lockinge to act as UKAEA Culham Advanced Manufacturing Hub: focused a perimeter road to take traffic off the town centre on remote handling – which will have applications routes and facilitate easier, quicker movement towards across a number of different industries where Harwell Oxford and Milton Park to the east. there are extreme environments (nuclear, space, underwater, underground). Relief to Manor Bridge (Science Bridge): New bridge over the railway line along the A4130 to provide A package of measures will improve access to the highway capacity and routing improvements to the Science Vale Oxford Enterprise Zone from the national main route through Didcot. and local road network. This will increase reliability and in turn provide the confidence necessary to attract Didcot Station Enhancements - Gateway to Science business investment and high skilled employees. Vale: Enhanced Station accessibility and improved facilities creating a transport hub and Gateway to • Harwell Oxford Campus Entrance Improvements: Science Vale. Enhanced capacity roundabout to accommodate growth across the area and the change in traffic Signing Strategy: To update signage to reflect the new flow patterns as a result of other network and improved network changes, helping to ensure improvements appropriate routing of vehicles across the area. • Harwell Link Road Section 1 (B4493 to A417): A338 Corridor Improvements (including Frilford A new road between the B4493 to the A417 to Lights): Highway and junction improvements to provide improved access to Harwell Oxford from accommodate additional traffic heading towards Didcot Oxford. • Harwell Link Road Section 2 (Hagbourne Hill): Highway capacity and safety improvements to Didcot Northern Perimeter Road Phase 3 (NPR3): A provide improved access to Harwell Oxford from new road to allow extension of the perimeter road Didcot around Didcot and access for the Ladygrove East site.

Didcot new accessible pedestrian link bridge to interchange and station entrance: Works to be completed in 2015.

A34 Chilton Interchange and Milton Interchange Pinch Point Schemes: 118 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

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Local Growth Fund Ask

Advanced Engineering and Technology As its core business, ASC will offer: Skills Centre (ASC) • Advanced and higher apprenticeships, The strategic aim of the Advanced HNC/HND, and foundation degrees to Engineering and Technology Skills Centre young people who are either employed/ (ASC) project is to contribute to addressing sponsored by participating employers or local, regional and national skills shortages in self-funded (including some supported STEM subject areas. via sponsorship links established by ASC) It will: • Specialist modules in areas of interest to participating employers for their own • Supply (in part at least) the requirement workforce for skilled technicians at Harwell Oxford and elsewhere in Oxfordshire Animal Husbandry Centre (AHC) • Deploy the unique expertise and facilities The strategic aims of the Animal Husbandry available at and around Harwell Oxford as Centre project are to help in addressing a learning resource for the rest of the UK, local skills shortages in animal husbandry Europe and the world and support the sustainability of rural enterprises in Oxfordshire. In so doing: It will: • Concentrate more effectively than is currently the case on the needs of • Supply the requirement for skilled animal employers husbandry technicians in Oxfordshire • Enable its students to gain skills and • Develop a database of sustainable animal insights into business, management husbandry techniques and innovation in addition to technical In so doing: knowledge and skills, and provide a pathway for them into employment • Concentrate more effectively than is • Achieve a balance gender profile among currently the case on the needs of its students, thereby addressing the employers current shortfall in female take-up of • Enable its students to gain skills and engineering and technical vocational insights into business, management education and innovation in addition to technical • Become an open-innovation, knowledge- knowledge and skills, and provide a sharing and problem-solving resource for pathway for them into employment the businesses and organisations which • Achieve a balance gender profile among participate its students, thereby addressing the The core subject area for ASC will be current shortfall in female take-up of engineering technician skills, extending into technical vocational education; engineering design, computing/IT, laboratory • Become an open-innovation, knowledge- skills, and potentially other related skill areas sharing and problem-solving resource for of interest to local businesses, provided this the businesses and organisations which does not dilute ASC’s focus on delivering participate education of the highest quality. The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 119

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National Science Centre Harwell (NSCH) prime position to capitalise on the Centre’s integration of public engagement, cutting- NSCH is intended to be the first national edge enterprise and business development. science centre in the UK. It will be forward looking (not a museum) and showcase the Sustainable Energy Research and very best of contemporary British science, Innovation Facility engineering and technology. This substantial (60,000 ft2) interactive science centre This proposal is for the creation of a engages and enthuses the next generation sustainable energy research facility, SERIF, of scientists and engineers about science to produce and test alternatives to fossil through the provision of an unforgettable fuels for transportation and combined journey through science, technology and heat and power applications. The facility discovery. There are many places to go and will act as a hub for innovative technology see examples of inventions and discoveries development and implementation on the from our country’s rich past, but nowhere Harwell Campus with the ultimate goal that really specialises in showing what we of transforming Harwell Oxford from an are doing right now. Through exhibits that intensive energy consumer (due to the use live data from real experiments (eg operational demands of the large scale streaming observations from telescopes in science facilities, Diamond Light Source Hawaii, relaying rocket launches, witnessing and ISIS which underpin the Campus) to experiments from the Vulcan laser facility), a net energy producer. Establishing the visitors will be able to experience science Campus as a future sustainable energy in action in real time. Content for the site paradigm will not only place Oxfordshire will encompass work going on around firmly at the heart of Cleantech research the country from Daresbury and Culham and innovation, it will also serve to attract to Manchester to Edinburgh – most of it global high technology industry to Harwell funded in part or in whole by UK Research as well as making the Campus an ideal Councils. location for future international science facilities (of a similar scale to the CERN Oxfordshire is a key part of the ‘golden laboratory). This vision of the Campus triangle’ that encompasses Cambridge and as a self-sustaining energy island offers a London – one that rivals any other global blueprint for large-scale energy provision in region for science and innovation. By placing developed countries as well as developing the Centre at the heart of the Harwell countries where large-scale infrastructure Campus, surrounded by the UK National for energy delivery is absent. SERIF will be Laboratories, we will proclaim that the UK is a flexible validation facility, accommodating one of the best places to carry out research new technologies for solar, wind, hydro and and that Oxfordshire is at its very core. The chemical power sources. In particular, the NSCH, with its close proximity to Heathrow, use of chemical storage technologies to will be an ideal location to introduce foreign balance out the intermittency associated investors to the UK’s achievements and with renewable energy sources, which has potential, and provide a stimulating venue been one of the major barriers to their more for conferences. Oxfordshire will be in a widespread adoption, will be investigated. 120 | The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan

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The mix of power sources reflects the lack of anchor a thriving research community a single solution to long-term future energy attracting thousands of visitors to the site production and storage needs by providing annually to carry out experiments and a “plug-and-play” platform for industry and collaborate with the scientists and engineers academia to validate their innovative energy at RAL. This research community is vital to solutions in a real world environment. This ensure the continued world-leading position unique facility offers a real competitive of the STFC facilities, and indeed UK science, advantage to UK academics and industry, and it is imperative that the best scientists in putting the UK at the forefront of energy the world and future leaders in their fields research. are attracted to the Oxfordshire campus. The Research Village will recreate the Over the next decade, the aim is to establish feeling of a campus-based university with a 100MW integrated energy production and 5 accommodation blocks (each with up 40 storage facility, building on the innovative bedrooms with shared kitchen facilities on energy solutions arising out of the validation each floor and 5 self-contained apartments studies. This novel facility will provide for those visiting for longer periods) situated low-cost, sustainable power to the Harwell around a central amenities area with a café Oxford Campus, achieving the goal of energy with free wifi, configurable shared space independence and recognising Oxfordshire for social events, bar and post office. This as a global leader in this field amenity centre will have room to expand and grow with the Campus Research Village at Harwell The Research Village at Harwell will continue Industrial Applications Facility for Extreme to foster the Campus environment on the Light Harwell Oxford site, offering short and long In collaboration with the University of term accommodation solutions, a variety Oxford and other key university partners, of catering options alongside shared spaces this project would seek to establish at and amenities to facilitate interaction the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory between the visiting scientists be they PhD an industrial applications facility for high students, early career researchers, senior power lasers that would offer unique academics or even Nobel Prize laureates. and bespoke capabilities to UK industry It has been proven that the most exciting, for non-destructive testing applications. innovative ideas can come from cross- Advanced, high power lasers have evolved disciplinary collaboration and the Research to the point that they are capable of Village at Harwell will provide the ideal producing super bright, high resolution, environment for serendipitous networking penetrating sources of radiation, including and collaboration. The Rutherford Appleton X-Rays, Gamma-Rays, electrons, neutrons Laboratory on the Harwell Oxford site is etc. This is not something that is possible home to world-class scientific research conventionally and thus they have significant infrastructure in the Diamond Light Source potential for industrial, security, medical synchrotron, ISIS neutron source, Central and other applications. In particular, the Laser Facility and RAL Space. These facilities ability to “see through” materials and image The Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan | 121

Science Vale Oxford

rapidly moving entities such as gears or • Relief to Rowstock: The proposed turbines in housings, to detect hidden / scheme will deliver capacity concealed materials or to produce super enhancements at Rowstock Roundabout high resolution 3D medical images has and carriageway improvements along already been demonstrated in collaboration the A417, including village junction with national and local industrial / medical improvements and public transport partners. This project would seek to rapidly infrastructure. It will offer improved capitalise on these developments by access from planned housing growth to establishing in Oxfordshire an international both Harwell Oxford Campus and Milton “first of a kind” dedicated facility that Park. Enhancements to the junction will we believe would see rapid take up by increase its capacity to accommodate UK industry and leverage the close local planned growth and change in traffic synergies already established. movements. • A417 Corridor Improvements (Wantage Road Improvements to Blewbury): To improve east-west • Jubilee Way roundabout (Didcot) travel and ensure safe access to/from the Improvements: Enhancements to the villages junction to provide improved access • Access to Culham Science Centre to Didcot town centre. Works include (via B4015): Congestion is currently remodelling of roundabout, creating a experienced on the A415 which provides through road to remove bottlenecks and the main access to the Culham Science a local access junction to the town centre Centre and the bridge crossings of the • Didcot Science Bridge: Part of the River Thames at Culham and Clifton Didcot power station site has been Hampden are at capacity and present decommissioned and the site is to be a bottleneck on the road network. This demolished. It is intended to develop the new access could be used by vehicles site, primarily for employment use. The travelling to and from the north via the redevelopment provides the opportunity A4074 and would remove the need for to address a seemingly intractable vehicles to travel through the Clifton problem of how to mitigate the predicted Hampden junction and on the A415 congestion on the A4130 to the west of • Cycle Network Enhancements: A Science Didcot as the housing and employment Cycleways Network will be introduced sites come forward over the next 15 linking the main centres within the SV years. A new bridge will be constructed area and also with Abingdon. This will over the railway line to the west of Didcot be built to high standards of safety and enabling traffic from the sites to the convenience, ranking with continental north to get to the A34 without having to best practice. The initial emphasis will go through the town centre be on routes from Didcot station to Milton Park, Harwell campus and Culham Science Centre.