Weston Otmoor

Weston Otmoor was a proposed new eco-town in the north of Oxfordshire in countryside to the east of the village of Weston-on-the-Green. It would have been next to Junction 9 of the M40 motorway and 7mi north of Oxford and was one of 15 bids shortlisted by the Department of Communities and Local Government on 3 April 2008. Eco-towns were subject to a consultation by the Department of Communities and Local Government ending 30 June 2008.Principal featuresLocated 7mi north of Oxford next to Junction 9 of the M40 motorway. 828 hectares, 2046acre. 84% of this is working farmland. The other 16% is an entirely grass airfield. 250ha is within the Oxford greenbelt35,000 people15,000 dwellings (10,000 initially)12,000 jobs (Few details have been published) An inhabited bridge over the A34 dual carriageway, taking inspiration from Birmingham and Florence, will be the signature architectural feature.The prospective developer is Parkridge Holdings UK Detailed plans for the half of the site SE of the A34 await further ecological study. This area includes the Woodsides Meadow Nature Reserve (Wendlebury Meads) and ancient woodland.Elimination of the carAn eco-town feature was to be the transport system:- There would be a single point of road traffic entry/exit for the whole town near J9 of the A34/M40.It was envisaged that the majority of workers in this town would commute either by car, bus or train to work. The commutes would vary from 10mi to 70mi It was thought that Prologis, the parent company of Parkridge Developments would base a transport depot at this location giving trucks/lorries easy access to the region's road and motorway network. The ecological/environmental impact of this development was yet to be determined.Travel within the town was to be by free tram. Homes were never to be more than 200m from a stop.Travel to Oxford and Bicester was to be free by train from a new station and improved railway line. The proposed East West Rail Link would provide a rail link to Oxford and Milton Keynes at a cost of some £150-200m. The funding source for this feature was yet to be determined at the time.There will be a park and ride service from J9 of the M40.