Work starts on multi-million Airfield scheme
WORK has started on a multimillion pound scheme to unlock land for employment and housing development in Ashbourne.
Derbyshire County Council is leading the project to build a roundabout on the A52 and a road to serve the proposed new Ashbourne Business Park.
The authority says it will provide a much-needed second access to the existing Ashbourne Airfield Industrial Estate.
The project is part of a wider regeneration scheme involving Derbyshire Dales District Council and Ashbourne-based developer FW Harrison.
Proposals put forward by the developer for the business park include nine hectares of serviced and development-ready employment land and potential for a new housing development as well as community and leisure facilities.
The Harrison family has been working towards getting the site developed for more than 10 years.
Paul Harrison, managing director of FW Harrison Estates Ltd said: “We are excited to see work start on site and look forward now to bringing forward the commercial and residential development.”
The site will provide industrial floor space and jobs for existing occupiers of the Ashbourne Airfield to expand and also give the chance for growth for new companies in Ashbourne.
The roundabout will cost £2.5m to install with FW Harrison contributing £1.5m and the remaining £1m 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, Derbyshire 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.”
“We’re working hard behind the scenes to get work on the ground started as soon as possible, signalling the beginnings of what we hope will become a huge economic benefit to the area.”
Construction firm Eurovia has been appointed to build the roundabout with the contractor selected to build the road set to be announced in the next few weeks.
Derbyshire Dales District Council Leader 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.”
Work on the roundabout and link road are expected to be complete by summer 2021.
Temporary traffic signals will be used on the A52 throughout the roundabout construction with overnight road closures to complete crossings of the carriageway.