Wantage Community Hospital refurbishment
Wantage Community Hospital on Garston Lane has been the subject of long-running local discussion about its future. In September 2025 Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Vale of White Horse District Council announced funding to refurbish the ground floor so the building can host a wider range of health and care services.
What’s being done
The ground floor is being redesigned to improve access and increase clinic space by eight rooms. The plans were drawn up with local people through a long engagement process led by health partners and Wantage Town Council’s health committee. One of the new services will be a dedicated area for children and adolescent mental health services, which local people asked for. The trust said further services for Wantage would be announced.
The work was planned in phases, starting in autumn 2025 with the aim of finishing by spring 2026.
How it is paid for
The £950,000 comes from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), a charge on new building developments that the district council collects and spends on local infrastructure. The Vale has a long-standing agreement with NHS commissioners to set aside part of its CIL for health, and this project is an example of that money being used close to where the new homes are being built.
By the numbers
- £950,000 of developer levy funding
- 8 additional clinic rooms
- Spring 2026 target for completion
What it means for local people
With thousands of new homes at Kingsgrove, Grove Airfield and Monks Farm, demand for health services in the area has grown. More clinic space in Wantage should mean fewer trips to Abingdon, Didcot or Oxford for routine appointments and outpatient services.
How to follow it
Oxford Health publishes updates and timelines for the project on its website.