Multi-million pound road investment announced for Shinfield

Tuesday, 12 March 2013

Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell with Mark Prisk MP at the Shinfield site

The University has secured an investment of almost £25 million for the construction of the Shinfield Eastern Relief Road, which will help to alleviate increased traffic in the Shinfield area. The Vice-Chancellor met with the Minister of State for Housing and Local Government Mark Prisk this morning as the news was announced.

The investment supports proposals to build nearly 2,400 new homes as well as the University's proposed 18,580sqm Science and Innovation Park south of the M4. The Eastern Relief Road is a vital part of the borough council's vision for major development around Shinfield, Spencers Wood and Three Mile Cross (known collectively as the South of M4 Strategic Development Location).

The new road will remove traffic on the A327 in Shinfield, by linking the A327 south of Shinfield with the Black Boy roundabout, including a new road bridge over the M4. The money will also allow the relief road to be built at an early stage of the SDL development, alleviating the impact of construction traffic.

The investment for the road, which was secured in partnership with Wokingham Borough Council, will come in the form of a loan from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to the University of Reading.

Sir David Bell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said: "We are delighted that the government's Local Infrastructure Fund is supporting the development of Shinfield West. The University of Reading is anchored firmly in its local community, yet prepared to develop its assets to drive wider economic growth across the region. This funding will speed the process of developing the infrastructure required to build much needed housing, develop our Science and Innovation Park and create jobs. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Wokingham Borough Council and its residents to realise these schemes and bring significant benefits to the area."