Woking’s Victoria Arch Scheme Shelved

Published on: 2 Oct, 2023
Updated on: 2 Oct, 2023

Victoria Arch, Woking Image Google Street View

By Emily Coady-Stemp

local democracy reporter

Plans to widen a key road and replace a railway bridge in Woking have been abandoned after costs increased by more than £50 million.

The Victoria Arch project, which would have widened Victoria Way to four lanes, and added new pavements and cycle lanes, is being shelved by the borough council because it is no longer viable.

The original cost of the project was estimated at £115m in 2017/2018, with a £95 million grant from Homes England, £10 million of council funding and £10 million from Network Rail.

Works would have closed the road for more than three years.

But costs have climbed due to, among other issues, the original scope for the project not foreseeing certain elements such as necessary further land acquisitions, utilities and highways works as well as new access needed for the Days Aggregates site.

The project was also impacted by rises in inflation and increased costs of material and labour, following both the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

A project review, carried out from July 2022 to June 2023 found that the scheme was no longer viable, according to a report published ahead of a meeting of the council’s executive on Thursday (October 5).

Cllr Will Forster

Cllr Will Forster, the council’s deputy leader and portfolio holder for key projects, said given Woking’s “critical financial situation” that the council and the government had decided the scheme could not go ahead.

He said: “It is clear the council needs to draw a line in the sand on this project.

“If the recommendation is supported, I know many residents and businesses will be pleased that the original plans for the Victoria Arch project will not go ahead, which would have involved this key road being closed for over three years.

“I would like to extend my thanks to the project team and partners who have undertaken significant work to rescope the scheme.”

He said if any funding came forward in the future, the scheme may be able to go ahead, and that the work done so far would remain “valuable intellectual property of the council”.

Meeting documents said: “Homes England are [sic] unwilling to support the funding of the budget deficit of at least £53 million for reasons including value for money and delivery concerns.

“The reviews undertaken by the council have been presented to Homes England and unfortunately, they have confirmed they are not in a position to support any of the revised project proposals.

“Therefore, the Victoria Arch widening scheme will not be progressed further and the project will cease.”

It is the latest casualty of the borough council’s poor financial circumstances, which also include the Sheerwater regeneration project and the Pool in the Park.

In June the borough council effectively declared itself bankrupt, issuing a section 114 notice when it was no longer able to balance its budgets.

The Executive meeting of Woking Borough Council will take place at 7pm on Thursday, October 5.

Share This Post