Wantage Market Place improvements
Wantage Market Place, with King Alfred’s statue at its centre, is the heart of the town. It is also a through route for traffic and buses and a car park. Oxfordshire County Council, working with Wantage Town Council, is developing plans to give more of the space to people, markets and events. The county says the opening of King Alfred Way, which takes some traffic out of the centre, makes this possible.
The two phases
Phase 1 (West End): the traffic order keeping the West End free of through traffic was made permanent in summer 2025. The plans add space for events and café tables, new trees and planting, better lighting and CCTV, and a dedicated loading area for businesses. This phase is funded from county council money and the local Community Infrastructure Levy, and construction is expected to start in autumn 2027.
Phase 2 (Market Place): the draft design would remove car parking from the square and add a bus gate to cut general traffic. It would also provide improved bus stops, more room for markets and events, trees and loading space. Blue badge and other parking would move to nearby car parks such as Portway, Limborough Road and Mill Street. This phase does not yet have funding. The county said bids would be considered after the 2026 consultation.
How the plans have developed
The county and town councils committed to the project in 2024. An ideas survey ran in summer 2025, with drop-in events at the Vale and Downland Museum and the Methodist church. Draft designs followed in June and July 2026, with exhibitions at The Beacon, and the county reported “a high number of responses”. Pedestrianisation of the square has been discussed locally for many years. The Wantage Neighbourhood Plan and the draft Joint Local Plan both support more space for pedestrians while keeping access for buses.
What it means for local people
- More room for the market, festivals and outdoor seating
- Fewer cars passing through and parked in the square
- Bus stops redesigned, with buses keeping access
- Traders get dedicated loading space
Traffic management during construction has not yet been decided. The county says it will coordinate works to limit the effect on businesses.
How to follow it
The consultation report will be published on the county’s Let’s Talk Oxfordshire page. Updates are on the county’s Wantage Market Place project page.