The Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel in Oxfordshire, CoHSAT, is calling for a new walking a cycling route, the Quantum Greenway[1], between Oxford and Harwell, as part of infrastructure to support the region’s growth plans.
“The Quantum Greenway would connect Oxford University’s science area as one of the nation’s five Quantum research hubs, with the National Quantum Computing Centre at Harwell. It’s a name that points to the future potential of the technology and the region. The route would also link Milton Park business and science park and Abingdon Science Park, and a short branch would stretch to Culham Campus.” said Robin Tucker, Co-Chair of CoHSAT, the Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel.
On 17th March 2026, Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet approved funding for a key bridge at Milton Heights on the route. Previous decisions will deliver a virtually traffic-free route between Oxford and Abingdon in coming months, and develop designs for other sections, leaving the section between Milton Heights and Harwell as the main missing link. This is a public byway that could be upgraded.
On the same day, HM Treasury announced up to £800 million “now available for buying new land and building infrastructure to kickstart development around Oxford and Cambridge, backing new homes, labs and workspaces to supercharge future growth”. This is part of a long-term plan to develop the Oxford-Cambridge corridor to be UK’s ‘Silicon Valley’.
A £1 billion City Deal for Cambridge in 2014, part funded by national government and part-funded by property developers started the construction of 12 Cambridge Greenways, linking Cambridge to nearby towns, villages, employment and research centres. CoHSAT sees the Quantum Greenway as the first of a suite of Greenways connecting the county.
Robin Tucker, Co-Chair of the Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel said: “We need to plan for a future including travel that is safe, that improves our health, that can be used by everyone – not just those who drive, that doesn’t damage the climate, and that is resilient to global events like fuel price shocks. The Quantum Greenway, and routes like it would fulfil all those requirements. And, with most of the pieces in place or planned, it would be cheaper than several of the road schemes currently underway.”
Ian Loader, Chair of Cyclox, the charity that campaigns for more people cycling more safely more of the time in Oxford, said: “It is vital that we plan routes and link up key places of work, residence and leisure when considering cycleways. There’s no point in having good infrastructure dotted around if they are linked by stretches of road or junctions that are not conducive to safe cycling. This proposal looks at the bigger picture and is the kind of joined up thinking that will make cycling in Oxfordshire easier, safer and more pleasant”.
[1] A working title. It could be named after a location or a famous scientist such as John Cockcroft, the first Director of AERE at Harwell for example.
