Town redevelopment gets underway (From Oxford Mail)

Town redevelopment gets underway

1:00pm Wednesday 25th August 2010 in

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CHERWELL District Council chief executive Mary Harpley, left, and town and district councillor Debbie Pickford cut the first sod to mark the start of Bicester’s £70m town centre redevelopment.

The project, which will see a Sainsbury’s supermarket, seven-screen cinema, six retail units and a 566-space carpark, is a joint initiative between the supermarket chain and district council.

Norman Bolster, right, district council executive member for economic development and estates, said: “People can now see development they have been talking about as dead for the last couple of years, is very much alive and well and going ahead.”

Ben Littman, left, Sainsbury’s development surveyor, said: “It’s fantastic to finally be on site and see work starting on the ground.”

Phase one work will see the River Bure moved from one side of Manorsfield Road to the other, a roundabout built at the junction with Hanover Gardens, and new bus lay-bys and improvements to Manorsfield Road.

Pictured centre, is John Liggins, of Stockdale Land, the firm overseeing the project.