Beaconsfield relief road unveiled

The bypass is set to improve north-south connectivity in Bucks.

In addition, it’s a more appropriate road for the heavy vehicles used for HS2 construction, Buckinghamshire Council said.

During evening rush hour, hours after the new relief road was inaugurated by the Mayor of Beaconsfield Alastair Pike, several drivers were seen taking advantage of the new bypass, which has a 40 miles speed limit from Maxwell Road junction to Pyebush Roundabout.

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Directional signage will be put up in the next two weeks.

Opening of the relief road was delayed after Bucks Council completed its share of building work, the north stretch between Maxwell Road junction A355 and Minerva Way, on time in 2019.

To build their share of the road from Minerva Way to Pyebush Roundabout, the housing developer Inland Homes had to first make enough money from new property sales to afford demolishing existing houses to clear space for the relief road.  

View facing south.

Back in 2020, the CEO of Inland Homes Stephen Wicks raised residents’ concerns after he said their section of road will be completed and open “in around four years’ time”.

Gareth Williams, Bucks Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Sustainability, commented the bypass opening: “I’m delighted that the new road is up and running.

“It will make a big difference in easing local congestion in this part of Beaconsfield and it shows how we can use the planning system to work together with developers like Inland Homes to bring much needed new homes and at the same time deliver crucial local infrastructure.”

Plastic wrapped electricity and signal boxes on the evening of the road opening.

Inland Homes’ CEO Stephen Wicks said: “Inland Homes made a commitment in 2019 to deliver its section of the relief road before occupation of the 99th home at Wilton Park but we recognised how important its completion was to the community.

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“I am proud therefore that we have been able to deliver the road well in advance of the 99th occupation, working closely with Buckinghamshire Council on the design of the final section and completing its construction in just six months.

The pelican crossing and view south towards Minerva Way.

“The road will significantly improve traffic flow around the area and I am delighted to see it open today.”

Richard Harrington, CEO of Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership was delighted to see the road – with more than £6 million Local Growth Funding- completed and improving the resilience of Bucks highway network.

He added: “Without these necessary improvements to road infrastructure there is a risk that the county could be put at a disadvantage in terms of transport access across the county and the knock-on effects to economic growth.”