New Beaconsfield relief road opens

The eagerly anticipated new relief road opened in Beaconsfield today.

The Beaconsfield relief road has been a long-term aspiration to improve north-south connectivity in Buckinghamshire by easing the heavy congestion on the A355 corridor and London End roundabout making this new section of road a key strategic scheme. It will also provide a more suitable route for HS2 construction traffic.

The relief road will connect to the existing road network through a new junction at Maxwell Road at the northern end, and with the Pyebush Roundabout and the A40 at the southern end. The scheme has been delivered in two parts by Buckinghamshire Council working with developer Inland Homes. The northern section of the road from Maxwell Road to Minerva Way was designed and constructed by Buckinghamshire Council and the connecting southern section from Minerva Way to Pyebush Roundabout has been provided by Inland Homes as part of their Wilton Park housing development.

The completed road is the result of public and private funding coming together to deliver a key piece of local infrastructure. Working together, Buckinghamshire Council and the Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership secured funding to deliver the northern section through the Government’s Local Growth Deal and Housing Infrastructure Fund. Developer Inland Homes has financed the connecting southern section as part of its planning obligations for their Wilton Park development.

Work to install directional signage on the route will be completed in the next two weeks.

Gareth Williams, Cabinet Member for Planning and Sustainability at Buckinghamshire Council, said: “I’m delighted that the new road is up and running. It will make a big difference in easing local congestion in this part of Beaconsfield and it shows how we can use the planning system to work together with developers like Inland Homes to bring much needed new homes and at the same time deliver crucial local infrastructure.”

Commenting at the opening of the new road, Inland Homes Chief Executive Officer Stephen Wicks said: “Inland Homes made a commitment in 2019 to deliver its section of the relief road before occupation of the 99th home at Wilton Park but we recognised how important its completion was to the community. I am proud therefore that we have been able to deliver the road well in advance of the 99th occupation, working closely with Buckinghamshire Council on the design of the final section and completing its construction in just six months. The road will significantly improve traffic flow around the area and I am delighted to see it open today.”

Richard Harrington, CEO of Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We are delighted to see this Bucks LEP supported road scheme, with £6.05m Local Growth Funding, completed which will improve the resilience and performance of Buckinghamshire’s local highway network, and enhance strategic north/south connectivity for the county.”

Richard added: “Without these necessary improvements to road infrastructure there is a risk that the county could be put at a disadvantage in terms of transport access across the county and the knock-on effects to economic growth.”