Princes Risborough Southern Road Link (PRSRL) project consultation 2021

Closed 12 Dec 2021

Opened 19 Nov 2021

Feedback updated 23 Sep 2022

We asked

The Princes Risborough Southern Road Link (PRSRL) project is the first phase of the Princes Risborough relief road. The relief road is to be built in three phases to support the expansion of the town.

We asked for feedback on the design of the PRSRL scheme before submitting a full planning application. The consultation ran from 19 November to 12 December 2021.

You said

We received the following number of responses:

  • 55 responses via the online feedback form
  • 91 written responses by email
  • 162 comments, queries and concerns raised during the live webinar session (131 attendees were recorded)

The responses to the online feedback form are outlined below:

  • New link road connecting the Princes Risborough Expansion Area to Summerleys Road:
    • 13% strongly supported the proposed design, 11% supported
    • 25% neither supported nor opposed the proposed design
    • 36% strongly opposed the proposed design, 15% opposed
  • New junction connecting the future relief road to Summerleys Road:
    • 11% strongly supported the proposed design, 11% supported
    • 24% neither supported nor opposed the proposed design, 2% didn’t know
    • 36% strongly opposed the proposed design, 16% opposed
  • New rail bridge:
    • 11% strongly supported the proposed design, 13% supported
    • 27% neither supported nor opposed the proposed design, 4% didn’t know
    • 34% strongly opposed the proposed design, 11% opposed
  • Summerleys Road as a shared pedestrian and cycle route with residents only access for vehicles:
    • 13% strongly supported the proposed design, 18% supported
    • 24% neither supported nor opposed the proposed design
    • 31% strongly opposed the proposed design, 14% opposed
  • New traffic light controlled junction:
    • 13% strongly supported the proposed design, 13% supported
    • 25% neither supported nor opposed the proposed design, 2% didn’t know
    • 33% strongly opposed the proposed design, 14% opposed
  • New link road connecting Summerleys Road to Picts Lane:
    • 15% strongly supported the proposed design, 20% supported
    • 27% neither supported nor opposed the proposed design, 2% didn’t know
    • 31% strongly opposed the proposed design, 5% opposed
  • Shared footpaths and cycle paths:
    • 24% strongly supported the proposed design, 11% supported
    • 22% neither supported nor opposed the proposed design, 2% didn’t know
    • 27% strongly opposed the proposed design, 14% opposed

We did

We have used the results from the consultation to inform the Statement of Community Involvement (PDF 5.62MB) prior to submitting the planning application. The Statement outlines the feedback we received and how it has been used to develop the proposals.

We have responded to comments and questions raised during the consultation in the Pre Planning Consultation FAQs (PDF 0.35MB).

Your feedback will also help shape the next phase of detailed design, if the planning application is agreed.

Planning application

We have now submitted the planning application for the project. All the documents and supporting studies are now available to view online as part of the planning consultation.

You can comment on the planning application in one of the following ways:

  • Online via our planning website, application 22/06910/R9FULE
  • Email us at planning.wyc@buckinghamshire.gov.uk, quoting the reference number 22/06910/R9FULE
  • Write to Lucy Bellinger at Planning & Sustainability, Wycombe Area Office, Queen Victoria Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 1BB. Quoting the reference number 22/06910/R9FULE

Please send your comments at the earliest opportunity. The deadline for the planning determination is Thursday 10 November 2022.

Keep up to date

If you want to keep in touch with project progress on the PRSRL, please visit the project website and sign up to our regular email bulletins.

Overview

Buckinghamshire Council logo

The Princes Risborough Southern Road Link (PRSRL) project is the first phase of the Princes Risborough relief road, which is to be built in three phases to support the expansion of the town.

The Wycombe Local Plan, which was adopted in 2019, allocates around 2,500 new homes in Princes Risborough through a major expansion to the north west of the town. For more information about the process of preparing the Wycombe Local Plan, please see Wycombe Local plan examination 2019: supporting evidence

For more information about the Princes Risborough expansion, please view the Princes Risborough expansion area phasing plan (PDF, 1.87MB)

A Capacity and Delivery Plan for the local plan was adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) in March 2021 to address in more detail the issues and constraints that will need to be carefully taken into account when delivering the relief road.

The road will provide a complete alternative route to the existing A4010 and will connect the expansion area with the town. It is a key piece of infrastructure which will support delivery of new homes and relieve congestion on existing roads.

Following a successful bid by Buckinghamshire Council, the first phase of the new relief road is being supported by £12 million from Homes England (a government agency).

This consultation asks for feedback on the design of the PRSRL scheme before the submission of a full planning application.

Design consultation

Phase one of the works involves constructing new highway and widening over an 800m stretch of road to enable two-way traffic flow. 

At the northern end of phase one, the scheme includes a new railway bridge on Summerleys Road, improving the current one-way traffic flows under the existing bridge.

The southern end of the scheme will include a new traffic light-controlled junction at Summerleys Road, Station Road, Station Approach and new link road connecting to Picts Lane.

The scheme includes:  

  1. Construction of a new section of road to connect to the future Princes Risborough expansion area and relief road. 
  2. New junction connecting the existing Summerleys Road to the new road alignment.
  3. New railway bridge west of the existing southern Summerleys Road rail bridge to allow increased headroom and two-way traffic flow.
  4. Existing railway bridge on Summerleys Road will be retained, along with the section of highway. This will be used to create a pedestrian/cycle route and residents only access for vehicles.
  5. New traffic light-controlled junction with pedestrian crossing connecting Summerleys Road, Station Road, Station Approach and the new Link Road.
  6. New link road connecting Summerleys Road to Picts Lane. Including enhancements to existing watercourse and provision of new swales to aid the flow of flood water. There will also be provision of sustainable drainage solutions to provide additional surface water storage.

Scheme visualisations

Future phases

In the future, phase one will connect to phase two of the relief road through the expansion area. 

Phase 3 involves two main sections. To the north there will be a new junction at Grove Lane, Little Kimble connecting the B4009 to the A4010. The B4009 will be upgraded.

To the south, phase one at Picts Lane will be connected to the A4010 via a proposed new road, known as the Culverton Link Road.

Related documents and links

Live online event

We hosted a live presentation on Tuesday 23 November 2021 between 6pm to 8.20pm.

In case you missed it, you can view the presentation slides (PDF, 4.08MB) or watch the presentation below:

More Information

  • 00:00:00 - Introduction
  • 00:04:00 - Agenda
  • 00:04:30 - Background 1
  • 00:06.45 - Background 2
  • 00:08:25 - Town Expansion – Phasing
  • 00:11:20 - Key Benefits
  • 00:12:05 - Funding
  • 00:12:55 - Purpose of the Consultation
  • 00:13:50 - Overview of the PRSRL
  • 00:16:20 - Progress to date
  • 00:19:00 - Scheme Summary 1 (North)
  • 00:22:20 - Bridge Layout
  • 00:25:00 - Scheme Summary 2 (South)
  • 00:27:03 - Other points
  • 00:28:30 - PRSRL Aerial View
  • 00:29:52 - Picts Lane Visualisation
  • 00:30:36 - Station Road Junction
  • 00:31:18 - Rail Bridge (South)
  • 00:32:29 - Rail Bridge (North)
  • 00:34:39 - Timescale
  • 00:36:15 - Feedback & Links / End of Presentation
  • 00:37:40 - Q&A Session Begins
  • 02:18:43 - Live Event End

We have also recorded a follow up presentation covering the remaining questions not answered on 23 November 2021.

How to provide feedback

Please submit your feedback on the design of the PRSRL scheme in one of the following ways:

  • complete the online feedback form using the link at the end of the page
  • complete and return the printed feedback form (PDF, 0.25MB)
  • email us on hitmailbox@buckinghamshire.gov.uk 
  • write to us at PRSRL Consultation, Highways Infrastructure Projects Team, Buckinghamshire Council, Floor 7, Walton Street Offices, Walton Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1UY

If you know someone who might need the feedback form in another format, please email us on hitmailbox@buckinghamshire.gov.uk or phone us on 01296 382416.

Please submit your feedback by 12 December 2021.

What happens next?

Once the public consultation period is closed, we will review the comments and decide if we need to make any changes to the initial design and planning application.

Anonymised feedback will be shared with our appointed consultants for the purpose of reviewing and assessing the responses to this consultation, as part of a Statement of Community Involvement. We propose to submit a full planning application from early 2022.

Dependent on the outcome of the planning application, expected by summer 2022, the scheme design and discharge of planning conditions is estimated to be completed by late 2022 to early 2023. Following that, the main construction works should begin from autumn 2023 and be completed by summer 2025.

More Information

Depending on the outcome of the consultation and future planning application, this timescale is subject to change.

  • Autumn 2021 - Completion of preliminary design and planning application preparation
  • Late 2021 to early 2022 - Public consultation followed by submission of a full planning application
  • Late 2021 to early 2022 - Commencement of land negotiations and acquisition.
  • Spring 2022 to summer 2022 - Statutory planning consultation and planning application determination
  • Late 2022 to early 2023 - Completion of scheme design and discharge of planning conditions. 
  • Summer 2023 - Land acquisition and agreements complete
  • Autumn 2023 - Start of construction work
  • Summer 2025 - End of construction work

Receive project updates

To keep you up to date with the project, we update the PRSRL project website and send out email bulletins at key stages.

You can read previous bulletins online and sign up to receive future email updates.

Privacy

We will use the information you provide here only for the purpose of this consultation. We will keep the information confidential and store it securely, in line with data protection laws and will not share or publish any personal details.  For more information about data and privacy, please see our Privacy Policy.

If you have questions, please email us on dataprotection@buckinghamshire.gov.uk or write to our Data Protection Officer at Buckinghamshire Council, The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, HP19 8FF.

Areas

  • North West Chilterns

Interests

  • Transport
  • Roads & parking