Hoped-for opening date of Newark's long-awaited southern link road revealed

The hope is Newark's long-awaited southern link road will be open no later than Spring 2023 now that the funding is all in place.

Newark and Sherwood District Council, in partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council and Urban&Civic, was successful in a bid for a £20m investment, into the southern link road, from the central government’s Levelling Up Fund.

This was one of just 17 successful local authority bids out of 84 UK-wide submitted, and the only successful bid from a Nottinghamshire district.

With £4.8bn being invested into the UK’s high-value local infrastructure, the Levelling Up Fund aims to support investment in places where it can make the biggest difference to everyday life, and support areas in selecting genuine local priorities.

The £20m investment will go toward completing the link road, which will form the missing link of Newark’s outer loop road by connecting the A46 at Farndon to the A1 at Balderton.

The site master developer, Urban&Civic built the first phase between Bowbridge Road and Staple before funding became an issue. The A46 to Bowbridge Road and Staple Lane to the A1 sections still need to be built.

Developers on Middlebeck were only allowed to build 600 homes before the road was completed under their planning consent.

This new funding will allow the remaining delivery of Middlebeck, one of the Strategic Urban Extension sites around Newark.

It is envisaged that a contract will be let to build all of the remaining southern link road next year,

District council leader David Lloyd said: “Our bid was built on solid proposals that will support our vision for Newark’s future, improving both transport and the growth of our district.”

The first stages of the development of the SLR are complete and have already provided the 600 homes, a brand new primary school and open space in the community.

This investment will unlock a further 2,651 homes, two-million square foot of employment space, local centres, a care home, a new country park, and new sports and recreation facilities including pedestrian and cycleways.

Urban&Civic, the district and county councils are now working at pace to ensure that works can start as soon as possible.

Mike van den Berg, senior development manager at Urban&Civic, added: “We are delighted that our work with NSDC and NCC to secure the funding has been successful.

"The southern link road is a vital piece of infrastructure to support local economic growth, jobs and provide more homes. Our new community will also be thrilled with the news with many of them choosing to buy a home at Middlebeck to benefit from both its access to green spaces and the connectivity offered through the SLR.”

Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council Ben Bradley MP said that £20m investment into the Newark and Sherwood district was a massive boost for the economy in that area.

Mr Bradley said: “This investment will regenerate the Newark and Sherwood area and I welcome it wholeheartedly, as will most residents who see the southern link road as a vital connecting link between the A46 and A1.

“Improving the infrastructure of an area is vital to boost economic growth and I look forward to the road opening in early 2023.”

Mr Bradley added the Levelling Up Fund would help to regenerate areas by creating new jobs and improving skills, which ultimately leads to a higher paid, better skilled workforce.

Plans are being drawn up to dual the A46 Newark bypass, which will further ease Newark's traffic congestion issues once complete.