WORK is set to begin on a temporary construction access bridge connecting the Brightwells redevelopment site to the A31 early next month - necessitating a two month lane closure on the Farnham bypass, Crest Nicholson has confirmed.

The developer’s project team set out plans to close an eastbound lane of the bypass between Hickleys Corner and the Shepherd and Flock roundabout from early August to early October in a briefing to councillors on Tuesday last week.

It comes after Waverley’s joint planning committee granted Crest permission to build a larger temporary construction access bridge over the River Wey in June, controversially using a temporary ‘haul road’ from South Street along Borelli Walk.

The bridge will allow for construction traffic to enter the site directly from the A31 throughout the four-year construction phase of Brightwells, thus avoiding the town centre.

It is expected that the bridge will be completed in early October, with a lane of the A31 to be closed for the duration of the works.

Borelli Walk will also reopen by January 2019. The bridge will be removed at the end of the scheme, and a new pedestrian footbridge over the River Wey will then be installed in the same location.

It was also confirmed at the briefing that archaeological digs were completed in June ahead of time, with “no items of real historic interest discovered”, and hoarding is currently being installed around the development site, replacing the existing Heras fencing.

Brightwells’ 30 unit retail centre, incorporating a cinema and restaurants is expected to open in 2021, with the first of the 239 homes being available from December 2020 - 30 per cent of which will be ‘affordable’, delivered by Crest for Thames Valley Housing Association.

Chris Tinker, chairman of major projects and strategic partnerships at Crest Nicholson, said: “A large part of the work we undertake is in partnership with local councils, supporting the regeneration of towns and cities, and we arc looking forward to working closely with Waverley Borough Council, Farnham Town Council and our other local partners to make a real difference to Farnham.”

Julia Potts, Waverley leader, added: “I am delighted the scheme has now begun and we can move forward with our plans to transform an underused part of Farnham into a vibrant community space that we can all be proud of.”

• A row over Waverley’s decision to splash £2.5 million of cash reaped from Brightwells on improvements at both Farnham and Godalming leisure centres rumbled on this week, after Lib Dem councillor Paul Follows told the Herald it is only fair “the area that takes the harm gets the benefit”.

At last week’s full council meeting, members agreed to invest £1.5m each on the two leisure centres, using a sizable chunk of the £3.19m one-off capital payment paid by Crest for the lease-hold interest on Waverley’s land at Brightwells.

Several councillors question why Brightwells’ dividends are being spent on projects outside of Farnham, however, one of whom, Lib Dem councillor for Godalming, Mr Follows, added this week: “As much as Godalming gaining from Brightwells is nice, it’s not hugely fair on Farnham who have been taking this burden for years and I can quite understand why people would be annoyed about that. I would in Godalming, residents in my ward certainly would be if it happens to them.”