Newark and Sherwood District Council submits £20m bid to government Levelling Up Fund for works on Southern Link Road

A £20m bid has been submitted to the government’s Levelling Up Fund to complete work on the Newark Southern Link Road.

Backed by Nottinghamshire County Council, Newark and Sherwood District Council has submitted the application that would unlock employment land and relieve the area’s traffic woes.

The project would link the A46 at Farndon and the A1 at Fernwood.

Only one section has so far been built ­— between Bowbridge Road, Newark, and Staple Lane, Balderton, as part of the ongoing development at Middlebeck.

Keith Girling, the county council’s economic development committee chairman and councillor for Newark West, said the investment would bring huge highways, economic and regeneration benefits to the area.

He said: “There is no doubt this investment would make a genuine and immediate difference to the area.

“For far too long this area has been a congested route into the town centre so completing work on the Southern Link Road would provide an invaluable release valve for traffic whilst at the same time unlocking parcels of land for redevelopment.

“As the local highway authority we are wholeheartedly supporting our district council colleagues with this bid.”

Matt Lamb, director of planing and growth at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said the land made accessible by the development ­— two million square feet ­— would be used as employment land, ensuring 5,000 new jobs.

He added 3,150 homes would also be built.

The D2N2 (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Local Enterprise Partnership) has reported there would also be two retail and commercial centres, a 60-bedroom care home, and two primary schools.

Mr Girling said: “This valuable investment and the commercial and employment benefits that will emerge as a result will go some of the way to aiding Nottinghamshire’s recovery from the impact of covid-19.

“I believe improved infrastructure projects are very visible signs of progress and we need projects like this to boost employment in the area, particularly among the county’s younger population.”

D2N2 has pledged a further £7m and other funding would come from the government’s Homes and Communities Agency and the Middlebeck developer Urban & Civic plc.

Another sponsor is Midlands Engine, a collaboration between the British Business Bank and ten Local Enterprise Partnerships across the Midlands.