Slough cycle route plan to link with Crossrail

Consultation has begun over plans for a cycle path along the A4 between Slough and Taplow to link up with Crossrail. Slough Borough Council wants to improve access for cyclists along Bath Road to Taplow railway station, via shopping centres, housing estates and business areas, as well as increase links to visitor attractions such as Cliveden. The council has been working with neighbouring Buckinghamshire County Council on the proposals ahead of Crossrail’s arrival in 2019. The route will join

Plan for Reading Prison to host major art exhibition

Plans have been drawn up to hold a two-month art exhibition at the former Reading Prison this Autumn as part of the town’s Year of Culture. London-based arts charity Artangel has applied for planning permission to use the ground, first and second floors of the Victorian building for an exhibition of works by leading international writers and artists. The exhibition which will also include a series of readings, screenings and performances, is planned to run from September 2 to October 30, 2016

Reading's MRT goes on show

Members of the public were given their first chance to see how segregated bus lanes are going to help speed workers between some of the fastest growing parts of Reading. Reading Borough Council transport planners, Chris Maddocks and Stephen Wise explained how the first phase of work on the new mass rapid transit (MRT) system will speed up the times for people travelling between Mereoak park and ride and Green Park and the Madejski Stadium via the A33, particularly at rush hour. Funding from

Heidi Bakery searches for Thames Valley sites

Windsor-based Heidi Bakery has targeted 11 locations throughout the western Home Counties for new stores. Relaunched a year ago as a cafe/coffee shop chain specialising in quality bakery, Heidi has appointed Fawcett Mead to acquire high street sites of at least 900 sq ft ground floor A3 space plus ancillary areas. The bakery will consider other sites which have potential for planning consent and alcohol licence. Other features of interest include external seating, corner unit, evening alcohol

Wycombe plans for 10,000 new homes

A draft Local Plan which details where 10,000 new homes should be built across Wycombe District Council goes out to consultation on Monday, June 27. The draft Local Plan accounting for developments up to 2033 allow for 5,200 more homes in High Wycombe, 2,600 in Princes Risborough, 1,100 across Stokenchurch, Lane End, Naphill and Longwick, 750 at Bourne End and Wooburn and 300 for Marlow. New employment sites and new roads will also be created. Wycombe needs 15,000 homes by 2033 but the

Westcott Venture Park seeks pre-let for new warehouse

Westcott Venture Park has won planning consent to develop a major new warehouse and is looking for a pre-let agreement before it starts work. Rockspring Hanover Property Unit Trust will invest an estimated £1.75 million in the headquarters building once a pre-let has been agreed. The permission from Aylesbury Vale District Council, is for a 25,000 sq ft Grade A warehouse, in a prominent 1.5-acre spot on the 650-acre park between Aylesbury and Bicester. Nigel MacKenzie, project manager at

Woking school and leisure centre moves closer

A new secondary school and sports centre for Woking has moved closer after borough councillors agreed a £13.5 million loan. The controversial 22-acre Hoe Valley School and leisure centre won planning permission in December and now the loan which will fund the sports centre, has been approved at a special meeting of the full council on Thursday, June 16. Funding for the school from the Education Funding Authority still depends on ministerial approval but if the plans are approved the whole

Basingstoke Leisure Park bears scrutiny committee

Plans for a £200 million redevelopment of Basingstoke Leisure Park moved closer on Tuesday (June 14) when the council’s scrutiny committee agreed to allow the scheme to progress. Work is now underway to draw up a development agreement with NewRiver Retail which plans a 300,000 sq ft Designer Outlet Village among the redeveloped 60-acre council-owned park which was built in the 1980s. The development agreement is likely to be followed by public consultation and a planning application.

MRTs take shape in Reading and Slough

Long-awaited Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) schemes are finally moving towards becoming reality in both Reading and Slough. Work has already begun on the first phase of Slough’s £8 million SMaRT scheme to deliver a rapid bus service between Slough Trading Estate, the town centre, station and the M4 junction 5 (Langley). And on Tuesday, June 21, a public exhibition will illustrate the South Reading MRT which will connect the town centre with Mereoak Park and Ride, junction 11 of the M4 and Green

OEE Consulting moves to Oxford Business Park

Business improvement and transformation specialist OEE Consulting has taken a lease at 8100 Hailwood at Oxford Business Park. The firm is relocating from Chipping Norton to the 4,000 sq ft offices. VSL & Partners acted on behalf of US based Wiley publishers for the seven year sub-lease at £22.50 per sq ft. Duncan May of VSL & Partners said: “This move marks an important phase in the growth of OEE Consulting. These new offices provide them with a more professional working environment with