The route of a new £110 million road in the west of the city has been confirmed.
AdvertisementLancashire County Council have now marked the route of the Preston Western Distributor as a protected route – which limits development in the area.
The new road would connect the M55 to Preston’s Docklands, with junctiond for new link roads to Fulwood and a new railway station and housing developments at Cottam.
County Councillor John Fillis said: “Work is already underway to increase capacity on major roads in South Ribble as part of the City Deal.
“But we also need new roads, a! nd the Preston Western Distributor will be vital to support the housing and employment sites identified in Preston City Council’s Local Plan and ensure the economic growth promised by the City Deal can be delivered.”
It is funded through the City Deal, a £434 million injection of government cash into new roads and infrastructure in Preston and South Ribble.
More than 500 people responded to a county council consultation on the Western Distributor route, raising concerns about the environmental impact of the road and disruption during construction.
Councillor Fillis said: “I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to share their views during the consultation. The many responses we received from residents and businesses have given us the confidence to progress with preferred routes at this stage and will help to shape the final proposals as part of the planning application.”
A full planning application for the roads is due by the end of 2015, and the county council say they hope to have spades in the ground by 2016 for the East-West Link Road to Fulwood and by 2018 for the Western Distributor and Cottam Link Road.
Councillor John Swindells, deputy leader of Preston City Council, said: “Our transport network is becoming increasingly congested and the Preston Western Distributor will be essential to ensu! re our city can support new jobs and housing without causing gridlock on the roads.”
What do you think of the plan for the road? Do you live in the area? Let us know in the comments below