The New Eastern Villages (NEV) is one of the largest greenfield developments in the country, and we want to keep you updated as work progresses.

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

Our dedicated New Eastern Villages team have been working on this strategically important development for a number of years and are experts in their respective fields.

In each newsletter edition we will introduce you to one of them.

What's recently happened?

Constructing the new railway bridge for the northbound A419 slip road

The contractor for this scheme, Osborne, has been progressing earth works and constructing piling platforms on either side of the railway (pictured below). The piling rig has been delivered and set up on site to start construction of the foundations for the new slip road bridge.

Continuing work at White Hart roundabout

• Osborne has continued drainage work and kerb realignment on the roundabout.
• Vegetation has been cleared before nesting season for the drainage pond and excavation has commenced.
• Conflicts with utilities beneath the footpath has delayed drainage construction on Oxford Road outside of Wemyss Lodge. As a result of this, the local area is being redesigned to accommodate the existing utilities.
• Topsoil has been laid along the verge of the new Ermin Street section in preparation for seeding.
• Osborne is progressing reconstruction work on Oxford Road which motorists will notice with the change to traffic management.

BT has installed fibre optic cables in ducts on the A419 off-slip for Highways England’s CCTV camera cables.  

What's recently happened?

Drainage work on Covingham Drive

Drainage work on Covingham Drive is progressing well. 

We'd like to advise that Covingham Drive remains closed between Piccadilly roundabout and the mini roundabout leading to Covingham Square as work continues on major improvements to the junction. The road closure will be in place until next Saturday (6 March) and will allow our contractor to carry out essential work during lockdown restrictions before schools reopen.

The diversion route will remain in place throughout the closure and is clearly signposted. 

Other work

• BT have commenced utility diversion work on Piccadilly roundabout.
• Our contractor is in the process of removing the existing splitter island on Nythe Road.
• We have commenced widening works on Oxford Road.

What's recently happened?

Kerbs installed at Sainsbury's

The contractor for this scheme, Dyer & Butler Ltd, has completed the kerbing work at the new entrance to Sainsbury's and cleared additional vegetation on site. 

They have also begun to remove the islands at the entrance to Sainsbury's and Thornhill Road after the streetlights were disconnected. 

Other work

• Our contractor is continuing with levelling work on the South East Quadrant.
  
• They have also commenced kerbing and drainage works on the South East Quadrant.

Constructing a footpath

Dyer & Butler Ltd are undertaking work on the westbound lane of the A420 as part of the Gablecross improvement scheme. 

The work will see a new section of footpath constructed from Symmetry Park to Gablecross roundabout. In order to carry out the work safely, we have implemented a lane closure on the A420 going westbound and have replaced the existing three-way signalised junction with temporary traffic lights. 

Work on the A420 started earlier this week and is due to take eight weeks to complete. The lane closure will be in place from 9.30am to 3.30pm, but the temporary traffic lights will remain on site for the duration of this work. 

What's recently happened?

Ecology work underway 

Fencing has been erected going north towards Wanborough Road and tree protection has been installed going south along the Southern Connector Road as part of our ongoing ecology work on site. 

Initial work to remove vegetation in the area has also begun on the Marsh and on Pack Hill.

Our ecology contractor has also identified what trees can be removed through the bat corridor. 

Implementing traffic management 

We are installing two-way traffic lights to the north of Pack Hill which will be in place between 8am and 4.30pm. We are also installing traffic management to the south of Pack Hill, which will again be in place between 8am and 4.30pm to allow us to clear vegetation in the area. 

Buckingham Group Contracting has installed traffic lights between Commonhead roundabout and Pack Hill with one lane access. The traffic management is due to be removed on or before Sunday (28 Feb). 

Symmetry Park applications

Unit B, the larger of the new logistic and distribution centres, is well underway and programmed for completion this year. There are three planning applications currently being considered by the Council; these relate to the associated landscaping, drainage and infrastructure required for the development, as follows:

S/AMEND/21/0151

Non-material amendment to previous permission S/19/1891 regarding changes to the details of the footprint and elevations of the Sprinkler Pump House.

S/21/0231

Application to vary planning conditions to amend the acoustic bund and amend the alignment of the strategic footpath/cycleway.

S/COND/21/0225

Application to agree details that are required by planning conditions relating to the drainage scheme and maintenance of the drainage features for this site.

Thank you to those of you who have provided feedback on the newsletter so far. If you have any questions you would like to ask our team of experts, please leave them in the survey below.