Oxfordshire County Council is working on proposals for the new household waste recycling centre, beside the town’s Park and Ride, to replace the ageing Ardley facility by 2030.
Planning permission for Ardley ends on December 30, 2026, while an application is expected later this month seeking an extension to March 2031.
Councillor Laura Gordon, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy, said: “Ardley HWRC is more than 40 years old and no longer meets the standards expected of a modern recycling centre.”
Plans for ew £6m recycling centre in Oxfordshire (Image: DEFRA press office)
“With the lease due to expire, we have an opportunity to plan a new facility, closer to population centres in Bicester and Kidlington and accessible from major roads.”
As well as providing up-to-date recycling facilities, the new centre will be home to a new re-use facility – something residents have been requesting for a long time.
The site would include a re-use shop, where suitable items could be sold.
It would also be designed to deliver 20 per cent biodiversity net gain, with habitats managed and maintained for years afterwards.
The council provides seven recycling centres across Oxfordshire for residents bringing household waste. The proposal would maintain this level of service.
Cllr Gordon said: “Residents and other interested parties will have opportunities to comment on the proposals as they are developed.”
“A programme of public consultation will support the planning application, and we will keep people informed as the scheme progresses.”
The plans are subject to consultation and planning permission.
Consultation details will be announced as the proposals develop.