Ermine Street environmental improvement scheme gets green light

Environmental improvement works to Ermine Street are scheduled to start next week at the north end of Little Stukeley and will be completed in March 2019.  These works, funded by Urban&Civic as part of the development of Alconbury Weald, will provide a more rural setting for the road and reduce speeds, which in turn should deter cars from cutting through the villages.

The scheme, co-designed with the Parish Council and local partners, was developed through a working group and the local community was consulted in 2016 and 2017.  Since then the final design for the scheme has been through an extensive Road Safety Audit assessment by Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) and has now been cleared for implementation.

The works, which will be carried out by local contractor Breheny Civil Engineering, include: • Narrowing the width of the Ermine Street carriageway.• Changing the priority of key junctions through the village.• Reducing the existing 40mph speed limit at the south end of Great Stukeley to 30mph.

Rebecca Britton from Urban&Civic said:

“We are delighted that the Ermine Street environmental works will be starting soon.  The final scheme is the result of a collaborative approach to help ensure we minimise the impacts and maximise the benefits of the Alconbury Weald development to our nearest neighbours.

“The works need to be in place by the time the 250th home is occupied at Alconbury Weald.  We currently have residents moved into around 130 homes and, while the scheme has taken a while to finalise, we are still pleased to be delivering it ahead of schedule.”

The plans will have a second phase of measures installed later on as the development progresses.  These include: cycle connection running the length of Ermine Street from Alconbury Weald, through the Stukeleys to Huntingdon and additional pedestrian crossings and cycle crossings at key points.

The scheme has been developed in the context of a number of other wider developments, including the A14 upgrade; the existing A14 becoming a local road to Huntingdon (A1307); the Southern Gateway entrance (application recently submitted) and future plans for the transport hub at Alconbury Weald, which will include a Rail Station and prioritised bus connection as part of Guided Busway Route B. The second phase of Ermine Street enhancements will allow additional measures to be considered once the initial scheme has been operational, and after the wider strategic investments are in place.

A leaflet that sets out the principles, approach and detail of the final approved scheme and the planned programme of works is being distributed to local residents and businesses and is available here.

If you would like to talk through the scheme, please get in touch with Rebecca Britton at Urban&Civic by calling 01480 413 141 or emailing rbritton@urbanandcivic.com.