Airport Motorway Link Road Construction Commences

One of the biggest transformational projects in Doncaster’s history has offcially begun.

Representatives from the public and private sector partners who have helped the Finningley and Rossington Regeneration Route Scheme (FARRRS) get to this stage will celebrate by breaking the ground on this route to jobs and growth.

This council led regeneration project is a true public-private partnership. It has backing from the private sector partners Harworth Estates, the Peel Group and Verdion, the Government through the Regional Growth Fund and is supported regionally by the Growing Places Fund and the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). Doncaster Chamber has also supported the project.

The new link from Junction 3 of the M18 will be instrumental in supporting growth and the expansion of services at Robin Hood Airport run by the Peel Group and provide the necessary road infrastructure for Harworth Estates to build 1,200 homes on the former Rossington Colliery site and Verdion, formerly Helios Europe, to build an innovative rail freight interchange called iPort also in Rossington.

This private sector inward investment will deliver thousands of new jobs and homes and provide a huge boost to the local and regional economy.

As well as cutting journey times and easing congestion for those travelling to the south of Doncaster, FARRRS will help transform the village of Rossington.

Welcoming the news, Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, said: “FARRRS is one of the most significant infrastructure projects in the UK and will deliver a raft of economic benefits for the borough and the Sheffield City Region.

“This transformational scheme will be a catalyst for unprecedented growth in and around the airport and in Rossington itself. It helps to lever in substantial levels of inward investment which in turns delivers thousands of new jobs and homes for local people to benefit from. Regeneration on this scale is rare and all our public and private sector partners deserve tremendous credit for making this long held ambition for a new link road a reality. This is a momentous day for the town.”

Peter Nears, Strategic Planning Director at Peel said, “The announcement of the commencement of the FARRRS scheme is great news for not only Robin Hood Airport and associated Business Park but also for Doncaster as a whole.  FARRRS unlocks the potential in the area for new development creating much needed new jobs and housing.  Peel is committed to playing our part in the success of the area and are pleased to be able to support Doncaster Council in the delivery of this important project.”

Steve Gill, Doncaster Sheffield Airport Managing Director added, “This road can’t come soon enough. From day one the council understood the strategic importance of this road to the region and how it can help the airport realise its potential and so we are delighted to see work commence. The delivery of this much needed infrastructure will truly place the airport at the heart of the region, helping to position Doncaster Sheffield Airport as the natural airport of choice for passengers and freight operators.”

Michael Hughes, Chief Executive Officer at Verdion, said: ““We are pleased to be key stakeholders in the FARRRS project. This is the start of major regeneration and investment in the Doncaster and Sheffield region which will create thousands of local jobs. iPort will provide vital intermodal freight transport infrastructure for the North East attracting important international companies to the area.”

Owen Michaelson, Chief Executive at Harworth Estates, said: “The FARRRS project is an excellent example of private developers and the public sector working effectively together to deliver a road which will unlock the employment and housing land required to drive forward Doncaster's regeneration.”

James Newman, Chairman of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “This ground-breaking ceremony marks the start of an important new link road, which will create hundreds of new jobs and bring millions of pounds of investment to the Sheffield City Region.

“The Doncaster Sheffield Airport link road will greatly improve the City Region’s connections with its national and international markets, as well as opening up a substantial amount of new land to investors and developers.

“Since it was formed in 2010, the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has given this project and the airport its full support and the commencement of the road shows what can achieved when private and public sector partners work together.''

Andrew McKenna, President of Doncaster Chamber, said: “It is excellent news for all businesses in the Sheffield City Region that work on the FARRRS link road is now starting.  When the Chamber got behind the critical bid to leverage Regional Growth Fund monies to support this scheme we were blown away by the amount of private sector enthusiasm and endorsement for the scheme.  Unlocking this growth corridor and improving access to the airport will be a significant game changer for the region.  The importance of this scheme cannot be overstated and, additionally, hot on the heels of the Civic and Cultural Quarter and White Rose Way, the road will provide another physical manifestation of Doncaster’s on going regeneration.”

The nearly three mile stretch of road will include a dual carriageway from the M18 towards Rossington to support the Inland Port. The link will continue as a single carriageway to the A638 at Parrot’s Corner and a direct connection will be provided into Rossington. 

Raised embankments will be used for most of the link road using reclaimed fill material from the former colliery spoil tips, while several structures will be built including crossings over the Brancliffe to Kirk Sandall (BKS) railway line and the East Coast Main Line.

Carillion has been appointed as the main contractor for the scheme which will become fully operational in early 2016.

Andy Brown, Operations Director for Carillion, said: “Carillion is delighted to have been awarded this contract and we look forward to working with Doncaster Council and other stakeholders to deliver this scheme. We are especially pleased to be providing, not only much needed infrastructure, but also a scheme that unlocks so much potential for development and growth in the area.”

Further information is available at: www.doncaster.gov.uk/FARRRS