We recently held the quarterly Community Liaison Group (CLG) to share the latest updates on project progress, including construction activity, planning developments, social value, and community initiatives.

Construction progress

Construction continues to progress well across the site, with significant milestones achieved in recent weeks.

On A5 Watling Street, traffic has now been moved onto a temporary alignment to enable construction of the northern section of the new access roundabout, alongside drainage and verge works. The roundabout remains on programme for completion later this year.

Overnight closures of the A5 between Gailey Roundabout and M6 Junction 12 are scheduled from 20–24 July, between 8pm and 6am, to allow street lighting, drainage and shared footpath and cyclepath surfacing works to take place. Signed diversion routes will be in place, with access to properties maintained throughout.

Traffic has recently been switched onto the newly constructed Vicarage Road roundabout. With this milestone complete, the temporary road is now being removed while the project team completes the remaining works away from the carriageway.

The 50-Series Access Road is expected to be completed by the end of August, and canal and towpath improvements remain on programme to open for public use by the end of July.

Construction of the Carlsberg Britvic unit is now complete, with internal fit-out expected to begin shortly. The building is expected to become operational later this Autumn.

Planning and development

Planning activity continues to support the next phases of development across the site.

Planning permission has been granted for the warehouse adjacent to the Carlsberg Britvic facility, while applications relating to the ecology corridor and additional green infrastructure are progressing. The project team also confirmed that opportunities to retain some existing lime trees are being explored following previous feedback from residents.

Applications for the A449 roundabout and associated footpath works have now been submitted and are progressing through the technical approval process with National Highways. Further planning applications are also being prepared for the 1000 Series Access Road and the A449 Stafford Road embankment.

Social value

Delivering lasting benefits for local communities remains a key priority for the project.

Validated social value data will be shared in full at the next CLG meeting, with current highlights including more than 690 hours of educational engagement, over 450 weeks of apprenticeships and T Level placements, 440 volunteering hours, and currently circa 40% of the workforce  employed through the project are from within 30 miles of the project.

The team continues to support employment opportunities, apprenticeships, work experience and careers activities, alongside community initiatives such as school improvement projects and seasonal donation campaigns.

The initial £65,000 Community Fund has now been fully allocated. While the formal Community Fund will reopen five years after first occupation of the site, the project will continue to consider opportunities to support local community initiatives where possible.

Community parks

Plans for the new community parks continue to progress, with landscaping already well underway.

The parks will provide managed natural spaces featuring wooden play equipment, habitat information boards and improved public access. Construction of the remaining park features is due to begin shortly, with completion currently expected by March 2027. Updated play equipment designs will be shared at the next CLG meeting.

Keeping informed

The project team continues to respond to enquiries received through the project inbox and helpline, and regular updates are shared via the project website and Facebook.

If you have any questions about the latest project updates, please contact us at contactus@communityrelations.co.uk or call 0800 377 7345.

To keep up to date with the latest project news, you can subscribe to the project newsletter and traffic management updates at the bottom of any page on the website.