Five new park and rides planned for Oxfordshire

Five new park and rides are being considered for Oxfordshire. Oxford Transport Strategy (OTS) has been published by Oxfordshire County Council as part of its Local Transport Plan 4, to try to cope with the county’s growth. New sites are proposed at Eynsham, Cumnor, Lodge Hill, Sandford, and Oxford Airport. phased over the next 15 years. The OTS proposes intercepting more car trips earlier in their journeys and further away from the city and the introduction of a network of ‘rapid transit’

Quod to lead Didcot Garden Town project

Planning specialists Quod will lead the team to develop plans for Didcot Garden Town. Last December Didcot was awarded Garden Town status, paving the way for many new affordable homes, more green space and significant infrastructure improvements, designed to help deliver 15,000 houses and 20,000 high-tech jobs over the next 15 years. Now South Oxfordshire (SODC) and Vale of White Horse district councils have appointed a team of experts to make it happen. The project is being led by SODC and

Reading's third Thames bridge inches closer

A key document supporting Reading’s attempt to get a third Thames bridge is due for completion by the Autumn. A summit meeting of stakeholders in the project was held at the town’s Crowne Plaza hotel on Friday, June 10, co-chaired by Reading East MP Rob Wilson and Henley MP John Howell. Wokingham Borough Council outlined its work on traffic modelling data, to four other authorities present; Oxfordshire County Council (OCC), South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC), Reading Borough Council

Windsor Link Railway planning application set for 2017

Radical plans to solve road and rail problems in Windsor could be submitted to councillors next year. The proposed Windsor Link Railway, a hugely ambitious £200 million privately-funded project, is the work of George Bathurst a former Royal Borough councillor who thought up the scheme six years ago and has now stood down to devote more time to it. A planning application is on course for 2017. It would be the first privately-funded railway project in the country for over 100 years. Mr Bathurst,

Green space in Wantage looks set to become 80 houses

A remaining 5.7-acre green space between homes in Wantage and a proposed 1,500-home development may itself, become houses. Outline consent was given to Lands Improvement’s 227-acre Crab Hill site in December 2014 for the 1,500-home development and detailed plans are expected this summer. Now Uncle Tom’s Field next Charlton Village Road, the remaining field between exiting homes and the planned new development is the subject of a screening opinion application by a Mrs Barker and Mr Smith, to

New 125,000 sq ft industrial scheme at Silverstone Park

MEPC has begun work on a 125,000 sq ft industrial development on land next to the Silverstone Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit. A total of 14 units, ranging from 5,000 sq ft to 25,000 sq ft are in two buildings at Silverstone Park. All can be used as B1 (light industrial use and research and distribution), B2 (general industrial use) or B8 (distribution) and can be amalgamated to create a wide range of sizes. James Dipple, chief executive of MEPC, said: “Our market research shows that there is a

Zenium becomes 22nd data centre at Slough Trading Estate

Another major data centre is to set up at Slough Trading Estate, bringing the total to 22. Zenium has signed a 25 year lease on a 60,500 sq ft development at 12 Liverpool Road and is expecting to be fully operational from January 2017. The site forms part of landlord Segro’s ongoing redevelopment programme at the estate. The unit was speculatively developed and designed to suit either urban logistics or data centre occupiers. Its letting means, of the entire speculative developments Segro

New application for Henwick Park, Thatcham reduced to 225 homes

A developer wants to build 225 homes on land at Henwick Park, Thatcham in West Berkshire, six months after a previous scheme on the site was rejected. The application by Caterham-based Croudace Strategic, via agents Nexus Planning, includes associated access, public open space, landscaping and flood attenuation basins on the land which is on the northern edge of the town. In December 2015, a previous application by Croudace for ‘up to 265 homes’ on the site was turned down by West Berkshire

241 homes plan deferred for site visit

An application for 241 more homes in Benson has been deferred. The planning application by RJ&S; Styles had been recommended for approval at South Oxfordshire District Council’s planning committee meeting on Wednesday, June 8. But councillors decided because of concerns over infrastructure and traffic, they would make a site visit before it could be determined. The proposals included provision for a new playing field for Benson Primary School which may require enlargement so that the school

The top 10 retail developments

An overview of the major retail schemes in the Thames Valley with the help of Fiona Brownfoot, retail partner at Hicks Baker. Ten centres where shoppers can expect change: Slough - Six more large units and 675 flats at the Queensmere Observatory Reading - Regeneration of the Broad Street Mall Caversham - Redevelopment of St Martin's Centre Maidenhead - New shops at The Landing and Nicholson Centre Newbury - Development expected at the Kennet Centre Bracknell - The Lexicon, due to open in