Unlocking homes and jobs through highways

Numerous road upgrades totaling some £67M have been announced, designed to unlock homes and access to jobs through a strategic network.

The improvements will be carried out across the country, with schemes in Wigan, Marlow, Newton, Cumbria and Plymouth, creating more than 4,300 jobs and over 1,700 homes.

Some £16.6M will be contributed by Highways England from its Growth and Housing Fund, alongside private sector developer contributions and other public funding making up the rest. The £100M Growth and Housing fund was set up as part of the government’s £15Bn investment in roads. The fund is designed to provide financial contributions towards the cost of road improvements needed for new developments, leading to new jobs and much needed homes.

Jim O’Sullivan, Highways England Chief Executive, said: “Each of these improvements will ensure England’s strategic road network continues to make a valuable contribution to the prosperity of our country.

“We will continue to use our Growth and Housing Fund, working with a range of local stakeholders to unlock further development sites around the country.”

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “Transport investment is crucial to a strong and resilient economy – that’s why we are making the biggest investment in roads in a generation, spending £23Bn across the country to improve journeys for motorists.

“These upgrades from Highways England will benefit the regions, giving a boost to businesses and better access to the jobs and homes that people want.”

The five schemes to benefit are:

A404/A4155 Westhorpe Interchange improvements, Buckinghamshire

With some £1.75M in funding, this scheme will create the opportunity for up to 560 jobs by bringing 22,000sq m of space at Globe Business Park back into use. Work on the scheme is expected to commence late 2018/spring 2019.

M58 Wigan Link Road (Greater Manchester)

This package of work is designed to improve accessibility in the area, reduce congestion and create smoother journeys for drivers. The scheme will also unlock the Pemberton Park development site, allowing 250 new homes to be built and support the delivery of a further 170 homes and 2,600 jobs at the neighbouring ‘Bell Site’. The site is expected to be open to traffic during winter 2020.

A46 RAF Newton (Nottingham)

A new link bridge over the A46 will be installed connecting the former RAF Newton site with critical transport links and public amenity services in central Bingham. The scheme will unlock the land allowing 550 local homes to be built and delivering substantial benefits to improve safety and conditions for vulnerable road users.

A590 Cross-a-moor (Cumbria)

This scheme will see an upgrade of the existing junction at Cross-a-Moor, Cumbria into a four arm roundabout which will provide a number of key local development sites with direct access to the A590 trunk road. The scheme will also unlock 106 local homes, and three further sites with the potential to deliver 895 new homes In the future.

Forder Valley Link Road (Plymouth)

This £37.84M package of works includes the construction of the Forder Valley Link Road which will connect the A386 at Derriford to the A38 to the east of the city. The link road will form part of a range of transport interventions that will help to accommodate a number of developments and will unlock up to 651 homes, and 1,227 additional jobs.

 

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