Against a backdrop of growing climate consciousness, rapid urbanisation and evolving work-life patterns, how we move through cities is being redefined. Oxford North, the £1.2 billion gross development value innovation district which launched last month, provides a blueprint as to the role that multimodality – the use of multiple, complementary modes of transport - can play in shaping tomorrow’s science, technology and innovation workspaces and sustainable urban development. It comes as Oxford’s relevance as a global science and technology destination has been further boosted in recent weeks by major investment commitments at Harwell East and Oxford Science Park.
At the heart of Oxford North’s infrastructure strategy is a fundamental recognition: mobility is diverse. People travel in different ways, for different reasons, at different times – and the success of a new urban district depends on how well it accommodates that mix. At the same time, transport usage evolves, and future-proofed real estate must consider tomorrow’s travel behaviour and technology as well as today’s needs.
Multimodality at Oxford North is a structural principle. The district is designed to operate at multiple scales, for multiple audiences. For local residents and employees alike, the site has been designed to seamlessly connect into the existing urban fabric. Walking and cycling are not only encouraged – they are natural extensions of the surrounding neighbourhoods.
For the science and technology workforce, where in-person collaboration is crucial to innovation and success, multimodality at Oxford North provides a level of resilience that others crave.
As the only purpose-built node straddling Oxford’s employment, research and cultural centres, Oxford North is strategically embedded within the broader city. Better transport links across the city support more efficient journeys from further afield – whether by public transport, cycle routes, or road – enabling the fluid movement of people and ideas.
The correlation between employee wellbeing, productivity and talent retention is now fully established. This extends beyond the physical workspace, and encompasses everything from the amenity offering, public realm and transport connectivity. Research from Yale University found that one highly stressed commuter can reduce overall team mood and performance, with effects lasting up to three hours after arrival.
At a regional level, the team at Oxford North is embracing what many transport plans still overlook: Oxford does not function in isolation. Its success is tightly linked to the vibrancy of its neighbouring towns and villages – from Woodstock and Eynsham to Wheatley and Kidlington – all of which are accessible as part of Oxford North’s unrivalled multimodality.
Its strategic location at the junction of the A34, A40 and A44 ensures fast access to the major commuter towns to the north, with 1.8 million working-age people live within a 60-minute drive, while the site is served by 13 buses an hour connecting Oxford North to the city centre and surrounding towns. And nearly 190,000 people lie within a 45-minute cycle, with the city centre just a 15-minute cycle away on new and improved cycle routes.
This accessibility is critical in achieving its ambition to be a thriving seven-day-a-week urban hub. Then there’s the national and international stage. Oxford North sits not just on the map, but on the move.
Oxford Parkway Station lies under one mile away and with a dedicated shuttle service, the site is uniquely positioned among Oxford’s innovation campuses. The strategic importance of the East–West Rail corridor only strengthens its regional and national ties and science and tech credentials – connecting people to Cambridge, London and beyond.
Multimodality, here, is not simply about convenience. It underpins a broader definition of sustainability - one that includes environmental impact, but also resilience, adaptability and the long-term durability of the urban plan.
A mixed-use site, Oxford North anticipates that people will come for different reasons: to live, to work, to visit. And they’ll come at different times, stay for different durations, and require different forms of access. The transport infrastructure supports that pluralism.
Cities and regions across the UK are grappling with the need to decarbonise transport, unlock economic opportunity, and build places people genuinely want to be. According to the Centre for Cities, poor urban transport makes UK cities effectively "smaller" than their European counterparts, equating to a cost of £23 billion in lost economic activity.
The link between sustainable public transport, walking, and cycling infrastructure and more liveable, equitable, and healthier cities is increasingly well understood. Multimodality is more than a transport strategy - it’s a design philosophy for future-ready places.
Simon Ruck, managing director, Oxford North Ventures