WORK could begin on Bicester's long-awaited new £70million town centre within a matter of weeks.
On Wednesday, development partners Sainsbury's, Stockdale Land and Cherwell District Council announced they aim to start work in the New Year.
Although plans have been delayed by the recession, the three parties are now ready to go with the ambitiou
s scheme, which will include a cinema, a Sainsbury's supermarket, new shops and restaurants, parking, a new bus interchange, and a civic building for CDC.
Councillor Norman Bolster, CDC's portfolio holder for economic development, said: "This has been a long time coming but we're now about to see this exciting project get under way.
"In the current economic climate, at a time when funding for projects like this is difficult to find, it's reassuring for Bicester that Sainsbury's, Stockdale Land and CDC have been able to work together to bring this exciting development forward."
Most of the new facilities – including the cinema, Sainsbury's store, retail units, bus interchange and car park – are due to be ready by the end of 2011. The site for CDC's new civic building should also be ready for development by this stage.
Construction will be phased to minimise disruption in the town centre, and a range of preparations must be completed before the main construction work begins.
Preparations will focus on the western side of the site along Manorsfield Road, and will include the diversion of the River Bure from the east side of Manorsfield Road to the west side, as well as landscaping along the new river route.
Jamie Cowen, Sainsbury's head of property development, said the project had been a long-term objective for the supermarket and ae added: "We are excited about the contribution the development will make to the success of Bicester town centre and look forward to delivering a range of new facilities."
