Northern Arc update on site progress: March 2021
Countryside Properties at Freeks Farm
Countryside Properties are the first housebuilder to be appointed at the Northern Arc and will be building 460 homes, over 50% of them as affordable housing. The first affordable homes are expected to be ready in late Autumn 2021 and the first private homes in Spring 2022.
Since the February update, although delayed due to poor weather conditions, progress has now been made on the new and improved play area on Maple Drive. Installation of the play equipment is now underway, and we anticipate its opening this spring. In March, Countryside Properties appointed Sage Housing Ltd to deliver affordable homes on site. There will be 237 shared ownership and affordable rent properties as part of the scheme. If you are interested in learning more about whether you qualify for affordable housing at the Northern Arc, contact Mid Sussex District Council or visit:https://www.midsussex.gov.uk/housing-council-tax/new-affordable-housing-information-for-the-public/ Countryside Properties will be taking expressions of interest for private sales later on in the development programme, we'll let you know when we have more information on this.
John Sisk & Son and the Eastern Bridge and Link Road John Sisk & Son who will build the eastern bridge and link road which will join Freeks Lane to Isaacs Lane have now finished the initial site clearance along Isaacs Lane and at the future bridge location as well as well as ground investigation for underground services. Now that this is complete, the next step is to mobilise to site and begin the construction of the site compound which will be happening in Spring 2021. The site compound construction will involve office cabins, storage, and parking as well as a temporary site access road.
The next stage to progress with the construction of the Eastern Bridge and Link Road will be enabling works such as erecting tree protection fencing, which is typically metal fencing used to protect tree trunks and branches from moving machinery as well as protecting the tree roots from excavation. It will be used to limit the environmental impact during the construction process. As well as the tree protection fencing, other enabling works will begin to commence such as a topsoil strip along the planned route of the eastern bridge and link road, which involves machinery excavating the top portion of soil in preparation for further excavation works.
Jackson Civil Engineering and the Western Link Road
Jackson Civil Engineering are building the Western Link road connecting the A2300 in the north to Jane Murray Way in the south, with new roundabouts built at the intersections with the existing highways.
Jackson are currently constructing the northern half of the A2300 roundabout. This is anticipated to be completed May 2021. This will be followed by the construction of the southern half of the roundabout and main carriageway. They will also be building attenuation basins to collect and store rain water as part of the sustainable drainage plans for the whole scheme, and carrying out other works building sewers and pumps for the Northern Arc.
