Welcome to the New Eastern Villages (NEV) newsletter. As a subscriber, this newsletter will drop into your inbox every month and will contain everything you need to know about the NEV development and the accompanying roadworks. An option to unsubscribe from receiving future editions is available at the foot of every newsletter.

What's recently happened?

Updates from Ermin Street and Oxford Road

This month a number of closures have been implemented along Oxford Road and Ermin Street to allow for resurfacing work to take place, to complete road widening and to connect Oxford Road with the new section of Ermin Street. Photos of the new road layout are captured below.

We would like to thank residents for their patience and ongoing cooperation while this work was carried out. 

Constructing the new railway bridge for the northbound A419 slip road

Piling work on the north side of the new railway bridge is complete and work on the south side is now underway.

Other work

• During April, the contractor, Osborne, has been continuing kerb removal and road widening at White Hart roundabout.
• Progress has been made on the drainage for the storm drain attenuation pond.
• Osborne has completed the northern end of the A419 slip road retaining wall.

What's recently happened?

Work on Dorcan Way

This month the contractor, R&W Civil Engineering, has finished installing drainage on Dorcan Way east and west.

The contractor is currently completing the excavation and widening of Dorcan Way east, north verge, heading towards Greenbridge Retail Park and constructing a new footpath on Dorcan Way west.

Covingham Drive closure

From Monday, 10 May to Sunday, 16 May, there will be a closure of the section of Covingham Drive between Piccadilly roundabout and the Covingham Square mini roundabout, in order to build a new manhole in the road and to install a new drainage pipe.

There will be a diversion route in place which will be clearly signposted during this closure.

Other work

• The drainage manholes on the corner of Dorcan Way east and Covingham Drive were reinstated.
• The contractor is excavating the kerb line on Covingham Drive.
• Traffic management is currently in place on the outer ring of Piccadilly roundabout.

What's recently happened?

Updates on Oxford Road

This month the traffic islands on Oxford Road have been removed and the contractor, R&W Civil Engineering, has infilled them.

The contractor is currently completing widening and excavation work on Oxford Road, west of Nythe junction, heading towards Greenbridge Retail Park. In order to complete this work, off peak lane closures are in place on Oxford Road westbound.

Temporary bus stop relocation 

As part of the scheme, the contractor has commenced hard surface stripping on the Oxford Road south verge, west of Nythe junction.

A bus shelter falls within this area of work and is considered unsafe for pedestrians to use during the work. A temporary bus stop was set up on 14 April to ensure the safety of bus users and is located 100 metres west of the existing bus shelter. The temporary bus stop will be in place for a duration of 12 weeks.

Alternative pedestrian crossing at Nythe Road junction

As part of the scheme, the traffic islands by the Nythe Road junction have been removed and the traffic lights have been phased out.

In order to allow pedestrians to continue to navigate the junction safely, we have installed an alternative controlled (push-button) crossing point located to the west of the junction.

The safety of our residents is paramount so we would kindly ask that pedestrians use this alternative crossing point and follow the direction signs around the construction site at all times. If you have any concerns or queries that you would like to raise, please contact our team at: Nythe@swindon.gov.uk.

What's recently happened?

Work outside Sainsbury's

During April, the contractor, Dyer & Butler Ltd, has progressed kerbing work outside Sainsbury's and has continued drainage work within the Sainsbury's site. 

The contractor has also begun laying the lower levels of road surface at the car park entrance and at the mini roundabout. 

Footpath construction

Work has started on the new footpath which will run alongside the A420 westbound. As part of this work, kerbs and drainage are currently being installed along the length of the path.

Other work

• Utility services have begun diverting their cables and wires in the area.
• The lane closure on the A420 remains in place.

What's recently happened?

Ecological work on site

This month on site, the hedgerow to the north of the scheme has been removed and vegetation has been cleared by hand along the bat commuting hedgerow, under an ecological and archaeological watching brief. Further tree protection fencing has also been installed on site. 

The contractor, Buckingham Group, is due to complete further vegetation clearance between Commonhead roundabout and Pack Hill.

Other work

• Buckingham Group has completed surveys on the verges of Wanborough Road to locate and map out all of the buried services.
• Buckingham Group has also excavated trial holes on Commonhead to Pack Hill to determine the existing road makeup.

Redlands Village

A consultation is open on a reserved matters application submitted for the erection of 81 dwellings and associated works at Redlands Village. The planning reference is S/RES/21/0454.

There is also a consultation open on a reserved matters application submitted for the construction of the internal spine road. The planning reference is S/RES/21/0607.

Both of these applications relate to the previous outline permission S/OUT/16/0021. You can view the planning applications here.

Foxbridge Village (South)

A re-consultation is currently underway on an outline planning application at Foxbridge South. The planning reference is S/OUT/20/0160. The description of development has been amended to:

“A mixed use development comprising up to 358 dwellings and a mixed use hub of up to 1,550 sq m (A1/A2/A3/A4/A5 and D1) with associated works, access to be determined and all other matters reserved”. You can view the planning application here.

If you would like to receive regular updates on all the highways schemes happening across Swindon, sign up to Highways News.