Roads cash injection launches Lincolnshire Lakes development

Go-ahead from government for construction of a £13.5m motorway junction to be funded partly by Highways England has given the green light for a 6500 home housing development in north Lincolnshire.

The new junction to be built on the M181 will provide an essential transport link for the Lincolnshire Lakes multi purpose housing, business and commercial development, which is being promoted by developers Lucent and Maltgrade and will also include a new stadium for Scunthorpe United Football Club.

Lack of transport connectivity including inadequate capacity at local road links has commonly been cited as a cause for rejection of planning consent for major housing and business developments. The M181 junction project is being funded partly by £8.6m from Highways England's Growth and Housing Fund, with the remaining costs being covered by local authority and developer contributions.

The £100m Growth and Housing Fund has been set up as part of government's £15.2bn Roads Investment Strategy, specifically to help provide the road improvements needed to get local development projects moving. The Lincolnshire Lakes 'garden city' scheme is expected to create up to 4,000 jobs. Work is expected to start on the junction construction project – around one mile from the existing M180/M181 junction – early next year.

Highways England’s chief executive, Jim O’Sullivan, said: "The £100m Growth and Housing Fund is a key means by which Highways England is strengthening its contribution to local communities and economies, and I am delighted we have been able to make this significant award.

"The Lincolnshire Lakes project will unlock the development of two strategic sites, directly enabling the delivery of thousands of jobs and homes over the next 12 years. This is a good example of Highways England working with local partners and developers to provide road improvements, value for money and economic growth."

Councillor Liz Redfern, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: "This marks yet another milestone in this huge development – the largest housing regeneration scheme in the North of England. Developers Lucent Fund and Maltgrade have now received the go-ahead for the two largest phases of the scheme and we have yet to receive further applications for the remaining homes that will complete the development. Besides new homes, there’ll be new schools, pubs, restaurants, lakes, sport and leisure activities and community centres plus much more."