Press release from Herefordshire Council:
Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet have agreed the next step in the delivery of the first phase of the Hereford bypass, a major road infrastructure project that, if fully realised, could unlock acres of employment land and deliver thousands of new homes and related local infrastructure, while at the same time reducing traffic volume and improving air quality in the city.
At yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, members greenlit the procurement route to enable phase one of the bypass to move to its construction stage. Members also approved the plan to acquire land necessary for the project, ensuring value for money for council tax-payers and its successful delivery.
The first phase of the Bypass was previously known as the Southern Link Road and will see a new road joining the A49 to the A465.
Cllr Philip Price, Cabinet Member Transport and Infrastructure, welcomed the decision, saying: “It’s vital for the city and the county overall that we develop the infrastructure to support much-needed new housing and economic growth in the county, as set out in our Local Plan, and this decision is a very important step in that process.
“We are delivering on our commitment to build the transport infrastructure we need to help alleviate congestion and enable local growth. The first phase of the Hereford Western Bypass will help reduce traffic on key routes, most notably Belmont Road and Holme Lacy Road, and support further development of employment land south of the river.”
This phase is part of the proposed Western Growth Corridor, which if fully realised will enable the county to develop the infrastructure needed to:
Improve transport connections and strengthen the resilience of the network – vehicles travelling north to south through the county mostly go through Hereford to cross the river. Creating another road bridge across the River Wye will reduce reliance on Greyfriars Bridge and the A49 through the city, improving journey times and improving resilience of the network.
Promote better health and wellbeing for our residents – reducing the volume of traffic on roads in the city creates the opportunity to deliver improvements to walking, cycling and public space in the city.
Improve local air quality and public places – reducing congestion will help improve air quality in the city making it a cleaner more attractive place to visit and spend time.
Support growth in the county – helping to meet the new target, set by the UK government, of building 27,260 new homes over a 20-year period. Delivering all these new homes is not possible without strengthening our local infrastructure. Reducing congestion and improving journey times will be a boost to local businesses and improve residents’ access to work, education, training and services.
Cllr Price continued: “We have thoroughly considered the opinions of local people and businesses throughout, including a review of the feedback gathered from the Hereford Transport Strategy Review. The views and experiences of local people remains vital, and we will be fully consulting with residents and businesses as we progress.”
