Council to divert plans for major Aylesbury link road project as part of £24m budget removal

Buckinghamshire Council will remove £24.335 million from its current budget and instead channel the money into “future years”.

As part of the move, a total of £11.815 million earmarked for the South East Aylesbury Link Road will now be diverted into future budgets, the largest single pot of cash being taken out of the 2023/24 budget.

The delivery of the project, which has been under “significant financial pressure” is delayed due to “funding negotiations with HS2 and Homes England, which are now resolved”, the council said.

The “reprofiling” of sections of this year’s budget was approved by Cabinet members this week.

The decision will also see £1.45 million of unallocated funding for primary school places be reprofiled into future years.

Some £2.108 million will also be taken out of the council’s corporate investment portfolio due to project delays on Orchard House Ambulance Hub because of increased costs, and project delays to Vale Retail Park roof works due to a tenancy change.

Other pots of cash being reconsidered include £1.237 million from cycle infrastructure due to project delays, £2.06 million from the council’s Future High Street Funds and £1.213 million from South Bucks Country Park due to a review being required in the original plans for the project.

The report agreed by Cabinet read: “Capital Programme needs to be reprofiled to accurately reflect planned spend.

“This is to ensure that the programme remains realistic and deliverable and reflects the latest project timelines.

“The 23-24 budget before reprofiling is £149.3 million. It is recommended that £24.335 million (16 per cent) is reprofiled from the current year into future years, to match the latest delivery projections.”

Aylesbury Orbital Link Road would consist of a 1.7km dual carriageway connected by three roundabouts. It would link the B4443 Lower Road to the A413 Wendover Road and the B4443 Lower Road to the future junction with South West Aylesbury Link Road and Stoke Mandeville Relief Road.