Progress made on north west Bicester strategic link road project

A major transport project that will improve travel connections around Bicester and support future homes, jobs and sustainable journeys is moving forward. Preparations for obtaining planning permission are getting underway for the next stage of the north west Bicester strategic link road.

Oxfordshire County Council has restarted work on the design and planning application for the road, after more housing was built in the area, enabling further funding to be secured. A new route will be created linking the A4095 at Middleton Stoney Road and Howes Lane with Lords Lane through a railway underbridge completed in 2021.

When finished, the road will support the continuing development of north west Bicester, where around 6,000 homes and at least 3,500 jobs are planned, and connect to a new secondary school to be built in the area.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repair, said: “The strategic link road is an important investment in Bicester’s future. It will help support the sustainable growth of new houses, jobs and services by moving traffic away from existing homes, reducing queues and making it easier and safer for people to choose walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport for everyday journeys.

“Now that more houses have been built on site, we can move forward together with developers and other partners to develop proposals for the full route.”

Following a review of costs and the delivery of planned housing, work on the scheme was paused in 2021 to allow for more houses to be built and Section 106 developer funding to be secured.

The council has now commissioned further design and planning work, including preliminary design, environmental and technical assessments, the planning application, and preparing for detailed design work.

Preliminary design is expected to be completed in spring 2027, with the planning application being submitted that spring and a decision expected in winter of the same year.

Detailed design is due to begin in spring 2027.

Construction of the full route remains subject to planning approval, detailed design, land agreements, delivery arrangements with partners, and funding.

Notes to editors

· The north west Bicester strategic link road was previously known as the Howes Lane realignment and A4095 realignment scheme.

· The proposed route would run from the junction of the A4095, B4030 Middleton Stoney Road, Vendee Drive and Howes Lane to a new connection on Lords Lane.

· The scheme includes walking, wheeling and cycling facilities, bus infrastructure and highway improvements as part of the strategic link road.

· Planning permission for phase one of the scheme was originally granted in 2019, and the first phase was completed in 2021 with the construction of the railway underbridge and a separate underpass for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.

· The current commissioned work covers preliminary design for the whole strategic link road, preparation and submission of a planning application, detailed design and a feasibility study for future arrangements on part of Howes Lane.

For more information visit the project web page: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/transport-and-travel/roadworks/future-transport-projects/north-west-bicester-link-road

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