Investment News | 21 July 2021
Major step forward for county regeneration scheme
A multi-million pound scheme to unlock land for employment and housing in a Derbyshire town has taken another important step forward.
Recently, Derbyshire County Council completed work on a roundabout near Ashbourne Airfield Industrial Estate that will link the new development with the A52.
The work is part of a wider regeneration scheme involving Derbyshire Dales District Council and Ashbourne-based developer FW Harrison Estates Ltd.
Work has now started on building a new road, stretching 720 metres, linking Blenheim Road with the new development and provide a connection to the A52 via the new roundabout.
The road is being funded by FW Harrison Estates, with improvement works to the final stretch of Blenheim Road to be funded by the district council.
Ashbourne Airfield Industrial Estate is the largest employment location in the Derbyshire Dales and the focus of the district’s manufacturing economy, occupied by over 70 businesses employing over 2,000 people.
Proposals put forward by the developer for the new business park include nine hectares of serviced and development-ready employment land and access to land for new housing development, as well as community and leisure facilities.
The roundabout cost £2.5 million to install, with FW Harrison Estates contributing £1.5 million and the remaining £1 million funded by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership through its Local Growth Fund.
Councillor Carolyn Renwick, the county council’s cabinet member for infrastructure and environment, said: “We’ve reached a key milestone in this project to unlock land to bring new jobs and housing to the area, as well as easing congestion on Blenheim Road.
“We look forward to seeing the second phase of this project completed in November to open up the site to development and pave the way to bring huge economic benefits to the area.”
Sajeeda Rose, chief executive at the D2N2 LEP, said: “Through our Local Growth Fund we are delighted to be supporting job growth in key rural towns like Ashbourne, which is the heart of Derbyshire Dales manufacturing economy.
“The Ashbourne Airfield project will be vital in boosting the full economic potential of the region by unlocking new jobs and providing much-needed employment space for businesses to grow.”
