Town centre development
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A new development will be built in Bicester town centre. It will bring better amenities to the town, including:
- a seven-screen digital cinema
- a large Sainsbury’s supermarket
- a range of shops and restaurants
- a new civic building
- improved transport facilities, including a car park with 560 spaces and new bus lay-bys
Work is currently in progress and expected to be finished by 2013/14. The development is co-facilitated by Sainbury’s, Stockdale Land and Cherwell District Council, and is expected to cost £70 million.
Timeline
Acquiring land
A compulsory purchase order was permitted to Cherwell District Council by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in August 2011. This enabled developers to purchase the land so that the development could take place.
Moving the river and building a foot and cycle path
The first phase of development will be to move the Bure River from the east side of the Manorsfield Road to the west. There will be a new footpath and cycle lane built alongside. This will be done by Kier Moss, and they will be on site from 7am to 6.30pm on weekdays and 7am to 1pm on Saturdays. Construction began in February 2010.
Creation of bus lay-bys and alternative parking
The second phase of development will be the creation of bus lay-bys on Manorsfield Road, so that the bus interchange can be moved there from Bure Place car park. The car park and bus interchange at Bure Place will close.
There will be temporary stops at North Street and Market Square. X5 coaches to Oxford and London will stop in North Street and will not serve Market Square.
There will be alternative car parking at the Cattle Market site on Victoria Road and on Market Square. Loading bays will operate on both sides of Market Square and the car park there is expected to remain open. This is expected to begin in late 2011.
New roundabout
The third phase of development will be a new roundabout at the Manorsfield Road/Hanover Gardens junction. There will also be more road realignment works on the Manorsfield Road to give access to the new car park, which will be above the Sainsbury’s and cinema.
Construction
Once the pathways, cycle lanes and roads are in place the construction of buildings will begin. A precise completion date has not been agreed, but developers currently expect it to be finished by 2013/14.