Link road to ‘unlock economy’

MEMBERS of Teignbridge Council will be asked to vote next week on putting £600,000 towards a new link road for Newton Abbot which supporters say will pave the way for new homes and jobs.

A meeting of the full council on April 28 is expected to approve the contribution to start work on a multi-million-pound link road between Newton Abbot Hospital and the Bovey Tracey Road at Jetty Marsh.

The council says the new link road will provide an important vehicle, cycling and pedestrian route into the town, ahead of 135 new homes being built at the Sibelco Berry Knowles development. Thirty per cent of the homes will be affordable housing. And through an agreement with developers Sibelco, the impact on the environment from the work will be reduced by extracting materials from the site to use in the development of the road, removing the need and additional costs of transporting it from elsewhere.

The £600,000 contribution is part of the £6.73m local contribution required from Devon County Council and Teignbridge for the link and the remaining improvements planned for the A382 between the hospital and Drumbridges roundabout.

The contributions developers make to local communities through the Community Infrastructure Levy will cover the council’s share of the costs. The Jetty Marsh Link road includes a new roundabout at Whitehill Cross and will improve access for people walking and cycling into the town or to the hospital, as well as reducing congestion for traffic.

The council’s executive member for planning, Cllr Gary Taylor, welcomed the national funding secured by Teignbridge and Devon County Council to improve the route between the A38 and Newton Abbot town centre, and to bring forward a connection through Houghton Barton from the A382 to the A383.

He said: “The Jetty Marsh link is a key element in the significant improvements being made to the local transport network and will benefit vehicle drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. I urge Teignbridge councillors at next week’s council meeting to agree the £600,000 funding which will enable earthworks to get underway as soon as possible.”

Councillor Andrea Davis, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, added: “It follows several years of investment by Devon County Council and is very important for Newton Abbot’s economy.

“It will unlock the development of new homes and jobs and provide safe, high quality cycling and pedestrian routes, giving those wishing to make short journeys realistic alternative transport options.”

Phase One of the A382 improvement programme between Forches Cross and Whitehill Cross was completed in 2021 with the council contributing £5.1m towards the cost of the £13.2m project. Work on the first part of the Houghton Barton Link Road is nearing completion.