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Nine Mile Ride Extension

Nine Mile Ride Extension

Schedule of work

  1. January 2019: Outline planning permission
  2. February 2020: Full planning permission
  3. Winter 2020/21: Complete detailed design
  4. Spring 2021: Begin construction
  5. Summer 2022: Open for traffic
            

Current project status

Main construction works began in May 2021 and have been substantially completed, with some minor remedial works to be completed before the road opens in Summer 2022.

  • New road tie-in works to Hogwood Lane / Park Lane and Nine Mile Ride / Park Lane - Summer/Autumn 2021
  • Carriageway works - Summer 2021 to late Spring 2022
  • Project completion - Spring 2022

More details can be found in the project newsletters on the tab below.

Background

Nine Mile Ride Extension (NMRE) connects the existing A327 Eversley Road in the north with the Nine Mile Ride / Park Lane junction in the south.

The NMRE construction is in 2 sections. The Northern section between A327 Eversley Road and the lane next to Hogwood Industrial Estate is complete while the Southern section is on course to open in Summer 2022.

Why we're building Nine Mile Ride Extension - South (NMRES)

We are committed to the development of 3,500 new homes with associated transport and green community infrastructure at Arborfield Garrison Strategic Development Location (SDL).

The SDL comprises of the Garrison site, Hogwood Farm and land immediately to the south. The land at Hogwood Farm forms the southern part of this SDL and is identified as having the capacity for 1500 new homes.           

The Nine Mile Ride Extension South (NMRES) is proposed to be the primary road in and out of SDL, connecting the existing A327 with Nine Mile Ride and provide important access for the main employment area.  

The council adopted the Core Strategy Development Plan that identified the extension of existing Nine Mile Ride and Park Lane junction to the A327 Eversley Road.

Subsequently in October 2011 we adopted the Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) to guide the SDL development.

The SPD was prepared through a consultation process in 2010 and 2011 involving the public, stakeholders, representatives from public sector agencies, landowners, officers and members of the council. 

The consultation process included:

  • 3 workshops to help inform the initial Options Phase of the SPD (a stakeholder workshop and 2 community workshops) 
  • An exhibition on options 
  • A first statutory consultation 
  • A consultation with Wokingham community hubs 
  • A second statutory consultation 
   

The council executive adopted the approved illustrative preferred spatial framework plan included in the SPD.

This plan will be subject to ongoing refinement as the master planning of the SDL progresses through the Outline and Reserved Matters stages.

Take a look at the Major New Roads map.

Route Option Appraisal (South)

The illustrative preferred spatial framework plan for NMRES was developed as a result of the feedback from the consultations as the master planning progressed through the planning application as follows:

  • Initial consultation response 
  • Response to community planning weekend 
  • Final design response 
  • Development framework plan 

An alternative link to Hogwood Industrial Estate, to reduce the number of HGVs on Park Lane, called Hogwood spur, was introduced between NMRES and existing Park Lane.

The design evolution is summarised in the following study:

Consultation (South)

The community planning event for the Arborfield Garrison SDL was held in January 2013. Among the key issues were Highways and Transport and green issues. The outcomes were reviewed and summarised by the project teams.

The Parish councils were consulted on the Hogwood Garden Village proposals in June 2014.

The pre application consultation with local people was conducted with explanatory leaflets. Approximately 8000 were delivered to homes by post.

By September 2014, 108 responses had been received which had been taken into consideration in preparation of the proposals for outline planning application. 

This was followed by static exhibition, with members of the team available to answer questions. These were held on 17 July 2014 at Finchampstead Baptist Church and 19 July 2014 at Henry Street Garden Centre in Arborfield.

To find out more read the:

This document includes Consultation Leaflet and Consultation Exhibition Boards.

The Development Framework Plan was used to prepare a series of parameter plans for the following

  • Access 
  • Green infrastructure and open space 
  • Land use (this should be read in conjunction with the land use budget which quantifies the amount of each land use) 
  • Housing Density 
  • Building Heights 
  • Order of Development 

The purpose of these parameter plans is to aid the assessment of the impact of these proposals.

The Strategic Development Framework Plan brings together the various components of the individual Parameter Plans.

To find out more read the:

Hogwood Garden Village Arborfield SDL - hybrid planning application - revised design and access statement (July 2015) – Part C and D (PDF document)

The Strategic Development Framework Plan will be developed at the Reserve Matters Planning Application stage.

On Jan 2017 the Executive approved the Strategic Development Framework Plan and for the scheme to be developed to Reserve Matters Application.

The Details of the Planning Application progress will be made available under a Planning Application tab at completion.

To find out more read the:


Reserved Matters planning approval for the Southern Section was granted in February 2020. Full details are available on the planning portal by searching for application number 192997. To view the outline planning application approved in January 20217, search for application number 273017. 

Detailed design of the scheme was completed in Spring 2021. In parallel with this, early enabling works to support main construction focusing on compound set-up, ecological mitigation and utility diversions began in April 2021 with main works starting in the summer and expected to run through to Summer 2022.

To stay up to speed with all our Major Highways projects you can use our online form to sign up to our newsletter. You will also see other listings that may be of interest to you.

For more details about Nine Mile Ride Extension South sign up to our contractor Balfour Beatty's for newsletter updates by emailing NMRE@balfourbeatty.com.

Take a look at the newsletters below:

A temporary shuttle bus service has been introduced for parts of Finchampstead as part of the Nine Mile Ride Extension project. 

The Park Lane/Nine Mile Ride junction is closed while construction work takes place, until October 2021.

As the closure is impacting on residents and people visiting the area the shuttle service will serve impacted areas for the rest of the closure period. 

The service started on Monday (5 July) and runs every weekday from 7.30am to 6.30pm and 8am to 2pm on Saturdays.

Services will run every 20 minutes during this period. Anyone looking to link up with the Reading Buses services in the area is advised to check its website and check the timings. A timetable for the services can be found below.

You can view the full timetable on our news webpages.

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