Multi-million pound major road improvements unlock thousands of homes and jobs
Multi-million pound road improvement schemes announced today by Highways England are set to help create almost 11,000 jobs unlock the development of more than 4,000 homes.
Strategic Road Network, North West
The improvements, worth £75 million, will create opportunities around Derby and Daventry in the Midlands, Oldham in the North West, Durham in the North East and Taunton in the South West.
Highways England is making a £12.45 million contribution towards the schemes from its Growth and Housing Fund, with private sector developer contributions and other public funding making up the rest.
The £100 million fund was set up as part of the government’s £15 billion investment in roads and provides financial contributions towards the cost of road improvements that are needed for new developments, which promise timely delivery of homes and jobs.
Jim O’Sullivan, Highways England Chief Executive, said:
As the improvements we’re announcing show, England’s strategic road network is vital for economic success by connecting businesses and people and supporting the Government’s agenda of employment and growth.
The improvements are essential to accommodate the extra journeys the developments will create, and we will continue to use our Growth and Housing Fund to unlock further development sites around the country.
The five schemes announced today are:
- £2.6 million for the A52 Wyvern Transport improvements scheme. Supported by private and public funds, including the D2N2 LEPs (Local Enterprise Partnerships) Local Growth Fund, the scheme will be delivered by the local authority (Derby City Council) to address performance issues on the strategic road network to allow the 28-hectare Derby Triangle development site to proceed, enabling up to 3,000 new jobs
- £500,000 for improvements to the A663 Foxdenton and J21 of the M60 in Oldham, Greater Manchester. Supported by private contributions and Local Authority’s own funds, the scheme will be delivered by the local authority (Oldham Council) to unlock 44 hectares of development land, enabling up to 2,000 jobs and 500 new homes
- £4 million for improvements to the M5, junction 25 Taunton, to be delivered by the local-authority (Somerset County Council) and supported by private contributions and the Heart of South West LEP Local Growth Fund. The scheme will unlock a 35-hectare local authority–led development site, with the potential to deliver up to 2,400 jobs and substantial benefits to the operation of the Strategic Road Network
- £1.85 million for improvements to the A1 (M) junction 61, Durham. It is supported by additional private funding and will be delivered by HE, in partnership with the local authority (Durham County Council). In total, around 270 homes and 3,750 jobs are expected to be unlocked
- £3.5 million for improvements to the A5(T) at the junction with the A45 to the west of Northampton, to enable a new, 5.9km local authority-delivered bypass scheme to proceed, linking the A5T directly with J16 of the M1. Delivered by the local authority (Northants County Council) in partnership with Daventry District Council, and supported by additional private contributions and public funding including the Northamptonshire LEP Local Growth Fund and New Homes Bonus, the scheme is expected to unlock around 4,000 new homes in the Daventry area
Highways England’s Growth and Housing fund has so far made contributions of over £40 million to 13 improvements to unlock almost 22,000 new homes and more than 34,000 jobs around Swindon, Exeter, Weston-super-Mare, Darlington, Scunthorpe, Grantham, Warrington, Honiton, Derby, Foxdenton (Oldham), Taunton, Durham and Daventry.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.
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