A new £16.7 million link road which drives the way for one of the largest regeneration and infrastructure projects of its kind in the 海角视频 has opened to traffic in South Yorkshire
Unity Way is a new 2.4km stretch between Junction Five of the M18, where it meets the M180, and Waggons Way next to the former Hatfield Colliery, close to Doncaster.
It enables the Unity project to start, which will trigger potential inward investment of £800 million, create more than 7,000 jobs and see more than 3,000 homes built in the long term.
Delivery is a partnership effort led by Doncaster Council and supported by the Sheffield City Region, developer Waystone Hargreaves Land LLP and Homes England. Balfour Beatty is the main contractor.
It will see 250 hectares of land neighbouring Stainforth, Hatfield and Dunscroft opened up for development and linked directly to the local communities.
The mixed-use development will provide new homes and jobs, a marina, leisure and open spaces, a new school and transport hub, shops, healthcare facilities and numerous superb commercial opportunities.
Unity Way also improves access to the motorway network for people living in Stainforth, Hatfield and surrounding areas.
Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster, said: “Unity Way is far more than just a couple of miles of new Tarmac. It is the catalyst for unlocking substantial inward investment, stimulating significant economic growth and delivering thousands of new jobs and homes across the borough and the wider region.
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“I am delighted we have reached this major milestone which has seen us work closely with our private and public sector partners to make it happen. Doncaster gets things done and when it comes to investing in our future we mean business.
“Unity Way is one of a series of schemes we are delivering right across our borough. They are making a real difference for our economy which is even more important given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
The project has secured £11.2 million of Sheffield City Region Local Growth Funding (LGF), £3.5 million from Waystone Hargreaves Land LLP and the remainder from Doncaster Council’s capital programme.
Dan Jarvis, Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, said: “Unity Way is a great example of how we’ve used the Local Growth Fund to deliver major infrastructure improvements to our communities, for the benefit of our residents and businesses and our economy. It’s schemes such as this that show South Yorkshire is open for business, and ready to prosper better despite the challenges COVID has thrown at us.”
From the junction with existing services, it crosses farmland and turns to go up and over the Doncaster to Scunthorpe railway line to tie in with the existing roundabout at Waggons Way close to the former Hatfield Colliery.
The motorway roundabout entry has been widened and turned into a dual carriageway for approximately 300 metres, where a new five leg roundabout serves the planned Unity project either side of the link road as well as a new access into the services.
Stuart McLoughlin, director at Waystone Hargreaves Land said: “It is fantastic that this vital piece of infrastructure has been completed ahead of schedule despite a challenging year.
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"Unity Way opens up direct access to multiple zones including Unity Connect, the commercial element of the scheme, enabling the development to move forward. We anticipate strong interest in Connect, where we have already secured a national retailer to build an 800,000 sq ft distribution centre.”
In addition to the roadway, the scheme saw the construction of a new bridge across the railway line and new culverts/crossing points over three drains as well as accommodation works for the bridleway crossing at Cuckoo Lane.
Paul Edwards, project manager for Balfour Beatty, said: “Working in partnership with our valued customer, Doncaster Council, through the challenges faced this year has allowed Balfour Beatty to successfully deliver and open this fundamental element of the Unity Project. It’s satisfying to know that we have been a part of facilitating and allowing the development to progress and the benefits it will bring to the local community.”