Morgan Sindall Group Plc has today (Wednesday 11 September) been awarded the contract to build the new community building in Bicester town centre as well as the pavilion and car parking facilities at the Sports Village on the Kingsmere development.
Cherwell District Council has confirmed that a contract for the construction of the two multi-million pound developments had been awarded, following a two stage tender process.
Cllr George Reynolds, deputy leader for Cherwell District Council, said: “The regeneration of Bicester has been the focus of our attention for quite some time. Having successfully completed and opened Pioneer Square last summer, we are now ready to make a start on the next phase of two major projects and we are confident that Morgan Sindall will do a fantastic job.”
In addition to providing the town with two major new facilities, the project will hold further benefits for residents as those due to work on behalf of Morgan Sindall will include small, local businesses and apprentices.
Although separate entities, the two projects were included within the same contract as a way of keeping costs down and ensuring schedules are maintained.
In the town centre, Bicester’s £5 million community centre will be built alongside Pioneer Square on Franklins Yard car park. Discussions have taken place with numerous organisations, including Bicester Historical Society and Bicester Town Council about the use of the site, which will incorporate a new Oxfordshire County Council library.
Planning applications for the work are expected to be submitted in the autumn and if approved, work could begin early in 2014.
To the south west of the town, Morgan Sindall will also carry out work on the second stage of the three-phase Bicester Sports Village. With the first phase, centring on landscaping and the construction and seeding of pitches nearing completion, the second stage will involve gaining planning permission for, and constructing, the new car park and pavilion.
It is anticipated a planning application for phase two could be submitted by the start of next year and if approved, work could commence at the end of summer 2014.
Morgan Sindall will also be responsible for obtaining detailed planning permission for the third and final stage of the project involving the provision of a synthetic pitch, athletics track, tennis courts and a multi-use games area. Although the firm will take responsibility for gaining approval for this stage, the work would be undertaken by specialist companies as and when the funding has been secured.
Funding for the phases one and two, totalling £3,336,800 has already been secured from Cherwell District Council and developer contributions. A funding strategy is now being developed to help secure the £2.3m required for phase three.
For further information contact:
Janet Ferris
Corporate Communications Manager
Cherwell District and South Northamptonshire Councils
Tel. 01295 221870
Email: janet.ferris@cherwellandsouthnorthants.gov.uk