The government authority responsible for overseeing the planning process for projects of national importance has started its examination into the proposed Great Yarmouth Third River Crossing.
The Planning Inspectorate has started its examination of the project’s Development Consent Order application during which there will be several opportunities for people to provide more details of their views on the project.
Ellen Goodwin, Infrastructure Manager at New Anglia LEP, joined partners to speak at the examination session to back the project.
She said: “The scheme will help to deliver our strategic ambitions by encouraging further investment in the Norfolk and Suffolk Energy Coast, a global centre of oil, gas, nuclear and renewable energy generation and infrastructure, and an identified Priority Place in the Norfolk and Suffolk Economic Strategy.
“The project will improve local access and journey time resilience by reducing congestion and support the regeneration of Great Yarmouth to help the visitor and retail economy by removing heavy traffic from unsuitable routes. This will not only improve the environment and public safety it will also encourage the use of sustainable transport and help boost social mobility.”
In February 2018, the Third River Crossing was confirmed as a nationally significant project. This means Norfolk County Council will require a Development Consent Order under the Planning Act in order to construct, maintain and operate the bridge and its approaches.
At the end of the examination period, which will take up to six months to complete, the examining authority from the Planning Inspectorate will have three months to submit its report and recommendation for the project to the Secretary of State for Transport. The Secretary of State will then have a further three months to decide whether to grant the Development Consent Order.
Should the Third River Crossing be successful in gaining a Development Consent Order the County Council will be able to start construction on schedule in late 2020, with the aim of opening the bridge to traffic by early 2023.
For more information about the Third River Crossing, visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/3rc.
