strength
Connect transport assets already built
The Eynsham park-and-ride site exists but needs its wider connections.
Completing a usable journey can make previous investment more valuable.
What could help →Oxfordshire, in numbers
Issues and SWOT
Oxfordshire County Council area. Every figure carries its own date.
Strengths to build on. Pressures to address. Choices to make.
These assessments connect evidence with proposed responses. They are not ratings of council performance.
Strengths
strength
Bring support closer to people in poor health
3.4% of people reported bad or very bad health in Oxfordshire council area (21 March 2021). Across England, the figure was 5.2%.
This is how residents described their health in the census. It can reveal differences between neighbourhoods, but does not diagnose illness or measure current waiting times. Age profiles differ between places, so these shares do not measure service quality.
What could help →strength
Connect local skills to local opportunities
42% of people aged 16 or over had a degree or equivalent (21 March 2021) in Oxfordshire council area. Across England, the figure was 33.9%.
Qualifications show one part of the skills available locally. They do not show whether people have secure jobs or work that uses those skills.
What could help →Weaknesses
weakness
Keep Islip connected during bridge works
Vehicle diversions affect a crossing used by local residents and buses.
A safe bridge scheme still needs workable access during construction.
What could help →weakness
Make room for homes people can afford
The average home price is £420,000 (July 2026) in Oxfordshire council area. This is about £127,000 higher than the England average for the same month.
Housing costs matter most alongside earnings and the number of affordable homes available. A local average cannot tell us whether a particular household can afford its home.
What could help →Opportunities
opportunity
Make Wantage’s public space useful to different users
The design consultation covers businesses, market users and accessible movement.
A welcoming centre should support everyday access as well as appearance.
What could help →opportunity
Plan homes and care around an older population
17.9% of people in Oxfordshire council area were aged 65 or over (21 March 2021).
Age alone does not mean poor health or a need for care. Accessible homes, reliable transport and support close to home matter as people get older.
What could help →opportunity
Target safety work where problems repeat
Mapped police records are available for neighbourhoods in Oxfordshire council area.
Published locations are approximate and some crimes are not mapped. Counts show recorded incidents, not the chance of an individual becoming a victim.
What could help →opportunity
Turn published plans into visible progress
3 named local projects or plans have official evidence in this collection.
A published plan makes responsibilities and intentions easier to inspect. It does not prove that funding is secured or that promised benefits have arrived.
What could help →Threats
threat
Keep the A40 plan credible as costs change
The programme was revised after construction-cost increases.
Phased schemes need a clear account of remaining costs and dependencies.
What could help →| Evidence and response | Who could lead | Related published plans |
|---|---|---|
| Connect transport assets already builtCurrent A40 scheme description. | Oxfordshire County Council | |
| Keep Islip connected during bridge worksPublished autumn 2026 traffic arrangements. | Oxfordshire County Council | |
| Make Wantage’s public space useful to different usersSummer 2026 design proposals. | Oxfordshire County Council | |
| Keep the A40 plan credible as costs changeCouncil explanation of revised design and delivery. | Oxfordshire County Council | |
| Make room for homes people can affordThe average home price is £420,000 (July 2026) in Oxfordshire council area. | The housing and planning authorities, housing associations and developers | |
| Plan homes and care around an older population17.9% aged 65 or over; 21 March 2021. | Adult social care, local health services, housing providers and transport authorities | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
| Bring support closer to people in poor health3.4% reporting bad or very bad health; 21 March 2021. | Local health services, public health teams, employers and community organisations | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
| Connect local skills to local opportunities42% with a degree or equivalent; 21 March 2021. | Employers, colleges, universities and the relevant skills authority | |
| Target safety work where problems repeatUse the dated, complete periods shown in Crime and safety; keep anti-social behaviour separate. | The local police force, council community safety team and relevant services |