Bicester Future

Town Centre Redevelopment Gets Underway

Works to transform the heart of Bicester town centre began on Monday 16 August as preparatory works got under way.

The town centre redevelopment project is being undertaken in partnership by Sainsbury's, Stockdale Land and Cherwell District Council and will deliver a seven screen digital cinema, a Sainsbury's supermarket, a range of new retail and restaurant units, a new bus interchange, improved town centre car parking and make provision for a landmark civic building.

The preparatory works are the first stage of the project and will include the diversion of the town brook, construction of new bus lay-bys and other highways improvements on Manorsfield Road. These works will be phased to minimise disruption and are expected to take around eight months to complete.

The key phases for these works are summarised below:

Phase 1 (August 2010 to December 2010) – The diversion of the town brook from the east side of Manorsfield Road onto the west side and landscaping along the new river route.

Phase 2 (November 2010 to March 2011) – The creation of new bus lay-bys on Manorsfield Road for the permanent relocation of the bus interchange from Bure Place car park onto Manorsfield Road. As part of the construction works, it will be necessary to close the existing bus interchange next year. Temporary replacement bus stops will operate from Market Square until the new bus interchange on Manorsfield Road is completed as part of construction works for the main town centre development.

The existing bus stops in the Bure Place car park will continue to remain in operation until the Bure Place interchange closes next year. Further information on the temporary bus diversions will be publicised before the existing Bure Place stops are closed.

Phase 3 (February 2011 to March 2011) – Highway works, including the introduction of a new roundabout at the Hanover Gardens / Manorsfield Road junction and road realignment works on Manorsfield Road to provide access into the new town centre car park (to be built above the new Sainsbury's store and cinema).

A plan illustrating these three phases of works is here.

It is anticipated that the main construction work to build the cinema, Sainsbury's and other facilities (including the completion of the new bus interchange) will start as soon as possible after the completion of the preparatory works.

The first stage of works is being undertaken by Kier Moss, a member of the Considerate Constructors Scheme. The contractors will normally be on site from 7am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 1pm on Saturdays, with no working on Sundays or public holidays.

Throughout the works, Manorsfield Road will remain open at all times with three-way temporary traffic lights used to manage traffic as efficiently as possible when required. Access for delivery vehicles to businesses located on Sheep Street / Crown Walk / Evans Yard / Wesley Lane will also be maintained throughout these works.

View towards Bure Place.

View of entrance to Sainsbury's from Bure Place with car park above.

For additional information on the redevelopment you can telephone 0845 604 8853 or email bicester@gka.co.uk

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Town Centre Redevelopment Gets Underway