Major step forward towards Hereford Bypass with specialists appointed to progress plans for Hereford Western Bypass.
Herefordshire Council has today approved a spend of £1.79 million for Phase 1 and 2 Consultancy Support for the proposed Western Bypass of Hereford.
The full decision can be found by visiting – https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/documents/s50124741/Hereford%20Western%20Bypass.%20Phase%201%20and%202%20Consultancy%20Support.pdf
‘Plans for the bypass had been in preparation for many years until progress was stopped in 2019. At its meeting on 28 March 2024 Cabinet approved restarting the Hereford Western Bypass, comprising Phase 1 and Phase 2, to emphasise the intention to deliver the whole project from A49 in the north to the A49 south of the city.
‘The delivery of Phase 1 will provide improved access to the key employment area within Hereford and support the council’s proposals for growth in that area. The road will also reduce the level of traffic using the Belmont Road and Holme Lacy Road and therefore freeing up road capacity in south Hereford.
‘The council does not have its own in-house skills or capacity to progress these proposals and therefore professional services support is required to deliver the commitments agreed by Cabinet.’
The information below is a press release issued by Herefordshire Council on Thursday 13th February 2025:
The development of detailed plans for the first phase of the Hereford Western Bypass is set to progress following the appointment of specialist support.
The first phase of the Hereford Western Bypass will see a new road joining the A49 to the A465. The planned new route will help ease traffic flow in south Hereford, make it easier to access employment land and support growth south of the river.
Planning permission is already in place for the new road, and the development of detailed plans will now be progressing at pace following the appointment of specialist support.
Global infrastructure consultancy AECOM will be working closely with the council over the next two years to review and update the plans already in place for the road (previously known as the Southern Link Road) in light of changing regulations, legislation and environment considerations since they were first developed. They will then support the council in consolidating the final plans and finalising the necessary agreements and funding arrangements which will allow for the construction of the new road to proceed.
Councillor Philip Price, Cabinet Member Transport and Infrastructure said:
“We are now in a position to progress the detailed work needed towards the construction of the first phase of the Hereford Western Bypass.
“We are making good on our commitment to build the road infrastructure our city needs 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.
“The development of detailed plans for the new road is incredibly specialist. We are confident that AECOM will provide the support needed where we don’t have the expertise or capacity in-house, and we’re looking forward to working with them over the next two years.”
Capital funding of £40.3 million has been committed by the council towards the cost of the first phase of the Hereford Western Bypass – £10.3million was allocated towards the cost of development in the 2024/25 budget, with a further £30 million capital funding over the next three years agreed in the 2025/26 budget, towards the cost of construction. Revenue funding of £760,000 has been committed to progress a business case for the second phase of the Bypass.
