Two new infrastructure projects have been approved that will improve connectivity for the important A140 corridor in Suffolk and Norfolk.
The board of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has approved almost £1.5m from its Local Growth Fund towards improvements at Eye in Suffolk and a further £650,000 towards work at Hempnall in Norfolk.
The Eye Airfield Link Road is a £5.4m project from Suffolk County Council to introduce two new roundabouts and a link road to improve traffic flow and safety and unlock the area for development, including:
- 100ha of serviced land for employment generating development
- 230,000sqm of new industrial floorspace
- Supporting delivery of 600 new homes and 2,000 new jobs
The LEP board has also approved £650,770 towards a £4.4m project from Norfolk County Council to build a roundabout at the A140/B1527 junction at Hempnall in Norfolk. The roundabout will improve congestion and safety at the junction, while also contributing to the delivery of 1,800 homes and 9.5 acres of employment space at the nearby Norfolk Homes development in Long Stratton.
Norfolk County Council has secured £3.05 million for the scheme from the Department for Transport, from the government’s National Productivity Investment Fund. Subject to planning consents, construction of the roundabout is expected to start in autumn 2019.
New Anglia LEP’s total Growth Deal from Government is £290m to 2021. Through investment in skills capital projects, innovation centres, transport and infrastructure projects and targeted business support it is estimated to create more than 54,000 new jobs, 6,800 new homes and to generate more than £600m in additional public and private investment.
Doug Field, Chair of New Anglia LEP, said “The A140 corridor has huge potential for generating economic growth through new enterprise, jobs and homes, but only if improvements are made.
“These projects will improve safety and ease congestion along the road, while also delivering tangible economic benefits to both north Suffolk and south Norfolk.”
Martin Wilby, Chairman of Norfolk County Council’s Environment, Transport and Development Committee, said: “We know improvements to the A140 Hempnall junction have strong support from Richard Bacon, MP for South Norfolk, local people, parish councils and county councillors. We’ve identified a suitable value for money scheme and secured funding for a new roundabout that will help to ease congestion, encourage economic growth, facilitate housing development, improve road safety and access and reduce delays.
“It’s very welcome news that all the funding is now in place. As members of the Norfolk County Council’s Environment, Transport and Development Committee approved the submission of a planning application for the new roundabout last week the crucial next step can now be made on this important scheme.”
