Major infrastructure changes are needed to support up to 2,000 new homes
Major highway works needed to support a large housing development in Peterborough have taken a step forward. The Norwood Urban Extension been allocated for development in the council’s Draft Local Plan, with 2,000 new homes planned.
The plans also include a local centre and primary school on land to the east of Newborough Road in Paston. Outline planning applications have been approved for both phases of the project.
Only 200 homes can be occupied across the whole urban extension before major A16/A47 highway works take place. This is because the proposed development was considered by National Highways to have a ‘severe impact’ on the strategic road network.
Dualling of the A16 between the A47/A16 junction, a new A16 roundabout, and a new foot and cycle bridge over the A47 are among the many works to be carried out.
Peterborough City Council is seeking to secure approximately £4.5 million from the housing developers to assist with future construction costs. These include the new access roundabout on the A16 and a new access junction with Newborough Road, connected by an internal road – providing all residents with direct access to the A16.
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) has previously funded the Strategic Outline Case for the highway works (£130,000), the Outline Business Case and preliminary design (£630,000), and the provisional Full Business Case and detailed design (£1.2 million).
A report to go before Peterborough City Council’s cabinet on December 16 seeks members’ approval to enter into a Grant Funding Agreement with the CPCA, which has awarded a further £727,000 towards the highway works.
Cabinet members will also be asked to approve the award of works to the value of £727,000 to its highways partner M Group Highways Limited to complete the Full Business Case and detailed design.
“Earlier business cases focused on developing the highway elements and the majority of this new funding will be used to develop and finalise the active travel elements,” the cabinet report stated.
It added: “The highway improvements will help unlock the full allocation of houses, as well as the community centre and primary school.
“Significant active travel measures will be developed to encourage more people to walk and cycle, reducing congestion and carbon emissions.”
