Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Place, Environment and Climate Action

Forward Plan Ref: 2025/231

Contact: Mohamed Gulamhussein, Project Manager (Mohamed.Gulamhussein@oxfordshire.gov.uk)

Report by Director of Environment and Highways (CMDPECA5).

The Cabinet Member is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)           Authorise the procurement of a contract for the detailed design of the North West Bicester Strategic Link Road using the Scape National Consultancy Framework with Perfect Circle JV Ltd; and

(b)           Delegate authority to the Director of Environment & Highways, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and the Head of Legal and Governance (Deputy Monitoring Officer) to award the Professional Services Contract.

The Chair introduced the item and invited officers to address the report.

Officers confirmed that the contract amount was £1.9m for the professional services related to the detailed design of the scheme. It was confirmed that the County Council were delivering sections of the scheme from the Railway Bridge to Middleton Stoney junction, with the developer delivering the other sections from the Railway Bridge to Lords Lane.

The Chair noted that Bicester had grown rapidly in recent years, so a strong highways network was necessary to alleviate traffic concerns, noting the closure of London Road due to East-West Rail plans, which would further impact these areas in Bicester.

The Chair thanked officers and agreed to the recommendations in the report.

RESOLVED to:

a) Authorise the procurement of a contract for the detailed design of the North West Bicester Strategic Link Road using the Scape National Consultancy Framework with Perfect Circle JV Ltd; and

b) Delegate authority to the Director of Environment & Highways, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and the Head of Legal and Governance (Deputy Monitoring Officer) to award the Professional Services Contract.