Fresh fears over traffic from Puy du Fou
25/02/2026
The park and nearby developments could generate 45 million vehicle movements a year according to a local group
by Esme Kenney, Local Democracy Reporter
Fresh traffic fears have been raised over plans for a £600 million theme park near Bicester, as a result of other major developments planned for the area.
Puy du Fou, which is a historical theme park that already has attractions in France and Spain, is proposing to build its first theme park in the UK on land north of Bucknell, near junction 10 of the M40.
The plans were submitted to Cherwell District Council in autumn 2025, after more than a year of consultation.
National Highways has commented on the plans, requesting that a decision should not be made on the application until after March 27.
They said this was to allow them to receive the traffic modelling files so that they can review the impact of the theme park on several junctions, including the M40 and A43.
Oxfordshire County Council’s transport officer is also holding an objection to the plans, stating that the impact of the road network would be “severe” and that the environmental impact assessment needed to consider the “worst case”.
A spokesperson for Puy du Fou said: “Transport is the number one issue, as one would expect for a major tourist attraction.
“We had agreed in advance of submission with Cherwell and Oxfordshire that we would update our Transport Assessment during the lifetime of our application to take account of the evolving nature of the number of other large schemes at various stages in the planning process nearby.
“As is normal, our revised Transport Assessment will take account of the other large schemes proposed in the local area.
“Transport bodies quite understandably lodge ‘holding objections’ until all the transport data has been reviewed, in this case our soon to be updated Transport Assessment.”
They added that this assessment was underway and would be completed by the end of March, along with the environmental assessment.
North Oxfordshire Residents Action (NORA) have set up a petition urging for an independent advisory board to be created to oversee the combined transport and environmental impact of developments in the area, including Puy du Fou, Heyford Park and Hawkwell Village.
The group estimate that this will generate 45 million vehicle movements a year.
NORA said: “This tsunami in population and traffic will undeniably devastate the character of our rural communities.
“Local country roads, already burdened, will struggle under the increased stress, leading to inevitable delays, accidents, and pollution.”
The petition has amassed more than 1,500 signatures in less than a month.
The council will not make a decision on whether the plans go ahead until after its local elections are held, due to pre-election rules.
A spokesperson for Puy du Fou said that because of this, they had expedited their first phase of development so that they “do not lose any time in progressing [their] plans”.
They added that their aim to open the theme park by spring 2029 remains unchanged.
Cherwell District Council was contacted for comment.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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