Investment News | 15 December 2020
Work starts on new business park infrastructure
Work has started on a multi-million pound scheme to unlock land for employment and housing development in Ashbourne.
Derbyshire County Council is leading a project to build a new roundabout on the A52, along with a new road to serve the proposed new Ashbourne Business Park.
The project is part of a wider regeneration scheme involving Derbyshire Dales District Council and Ashbourne-based developer FW Harrison.
Proposals put forward by Planning & Design Practice on behalf of the developer for the new business park include nine hectares of serviced and development-ready employment land and potential for new housing, as well as community and leisure facilities.
The site will provide industrial floor space for existing occupiers of the nearby Ashbourne Airfield Industrial Estate to expand, while also creating space for new companies.
The roundabout will cost £2.5 million to install, with FW Harrison contributing £1.5 million and the remaining £1 million being funded by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership through its Local Growth Fund.
The new road will provide a 900-metre long extension to Blenheim Road, connecting to the A52 via the new roundabout and will be wholly funded by FW Harrison.
Councillor Simon Spencer, the county council’s cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure, said: “This new link road and roundabout is the key to unlocking land to bring new jobs and housing to the area, as well as easing congestion on Blenheim Road.”
Derbyshire Dales District Council leader, Councillor Garry Purdy said: “Derbyshire Dales District Council is proud to be playing a lead role in this regeneration and delivery of this much-needed site for employment and housing.
“This site is superbly located within easy reach of nationally important cities and employment locations.
“The new roundabout and link road will address existing highway capacity problems and effectively unlocks the site's enormous potential.”
Sajeeda Rose, chief executive of the D2N2 LEP, said: “Ensuring our communities have access to increasing employment opportunities is key to our economic recovery from a coronavirus pandemic that continues to have a profound effect on our entire region.
“It’s through schemes such as Ashbourne Business Park that the support D2N2 can offer will help our region attract inward investment, take advantage of new opportunities and create an ever more resilient economy for all.”
Work on the roundabout and link road is expected to be completed by summer next year.
