All change as developer Urban&Civic apply for permission to create wildlife and cycling corridor with access to Grange Road from Middlebeck as Southern Link Road driven forward

The phasing of the 3,500 house Middlebeck development is changing now that the long-awaited Southern Link Road can be delivered in one go.

Following the sourcing of £20m from government to complete the road, which will link the A46 at Farndon with the A1 at Fernwood, the phasing has been changed because it was initially envisaged highway construction would be carried out in three parts.

The first section, Bowbridge Road to Staple Lane, has been completed, with the Farndon to Bowbridge Road and the section to the A1 yet to start.

Lead developer Urban&Civic said the opening time for the Southern Link Road was currently now 2025.

This has meant a reshuffle in the timetable with an application coming forward for a wildlife corridor and cycle way sooner in the phasing.

The wildlife corridor and cycle way proposal has been submitted by Urban&Civic to Newark and Sherwood District Council for planning consent, but has proven controversial among consultees, who have traffic concerns relating to Grange Road.

While a wildlife corridor and cycle way are welcomed by Newark Town Council, for instance, there are concerns over the proposed loss of one vehicular access onto Grange Road that had been proposed.

However, Urban&Civic told the Advertiser: “The planning permission granted in 2011 for the Southern Link Road, forming part of the Middlebeck development, envisaged the road to delivered in phases.

“This meant that temporary access for traffic to Grange Road was needed during that process.

“Now the Southern Link Road will be delivered in its entirety in one phase, these temporary vehicular roads aren’t needed and instead they will be created as permanent pedestrian greenways.

“This is positive as early delivery of these greenways will mean environmental benefits of this planting will be realised sooner.

“The two north-south vehicle connections into Middlebeck will be on the enhanced and improved Bowbridge Lane (now complete) and Newark Road. The timeline for opening the Southern Link Road is currently 2025.

“We work hard to build a sustainable community and intend to share regular progress updates during the life of the project. Everything from our active travel and community events, and sustainability, through to our sponsorships, and infrastructure work.”

County highways, a consultee on all road issues, has raised concerns over the extra weight of traffic new homes could bring onto Grange Road with only one vehicular access when, temporarily, there would have been two.

It said in its comment that it had been advised by the local planning authority that the original permission for the outline development was given on the basis of two vehicular accesses connecting to Grange Road, of which the walking and cycling route would have been one.

“However, this application removes its ability to be delivered as originally envisaged, which may have originally been as part of Parcel 5. The residual approved second point of access onto Grange Road is within a separate parcel to the west.

“A further alternative second point of access has been discussed as part of the Central Street application, to the south on Bowbridge Lane. However, with no indication as to phasing of subsequent parcels or any formal agreement to limit dwelling numbers prior to delivery of a second point of access, there is a risk that a substantial number of dwellings could be built, served by one access (the traffic signal junction with Bowbridge Lane).

“There are 160 dwellings already constructed as part of Parcel 4 and information suggests that Parcel 5 could bring forward circa 260 dwellings, meaning that the existing single point of access could serve up to 420 dwellings.

“Previous assessments related to a separate application have shown there is a risk of capacity issues at this junction when considering the development as a whole with a number of alternative access points, so this junction is known to be sensitive.

“It is thought that as the only point of access the capacity threshold is likely to be close, if not exceeded, in addition to not meeting the principles of the Nottinghamshire Highway Design Guide in regard to required points of access.

“The highway authority would therefore request that parallel to this application, the local planning authority secure means to ensure no more than the number of dwellings associated with Parcel 4 and 5 are occupied prior to a second point of access being constructed for use, given that this application removes the opportunity to provide this, in accordance with the outline application.”

Whatever the outcome, two bungalows at Vixen’s Court are currently being demolished by the developer to facilitate an access.