Planning applications submitted for £100m Spalding Relief Road

Planning applications for the northern and southern sections of the £100 million Spalding Western Relief Road have been submitted.

If planning permission is granted the new sections of road would see roundabouts built on the B1172 and Spalding Road. Bridges over the railway line would also be constructed.

The Spalding Western Relief Road is designed to encourage growth, reduce delays and congestion, improve journey times and support increased walking, cycling and use of public transport.

The proposed layout for the Spalding Relief Road.

The project has already caused frustration to residents living on the proposed route. One person told reporters the council will have to “tow him out with a chain and a bulldozer”.

Other residents have said they have been “left in limbo” as the major bypass could see their family homes demolished.

Lincolnshire County Council recently apologised to residents.

The council is hoping to get approval later this year so it can break ground on the northern section this winter and the southern part during Spring 2022.

Executive member for highways at Lincolnshire County Council, Councillor Richard Davies, said: “Not only are there several new residential developments planned for the area, but we’re also expecting an increase in the amount of freight passing through town.

“Because of this, there’s a desperate need to start working towards making future travel in and around Spalding quicker and easier by building a western relief road.

“Our hope is that both the planning applications and legal orders for these first two sections of the road are approved later this year so we can break ground on the northern section this winter and the southern section during spring 2022.

“I would like to reassure those living on Bourne Road and Horseshoe Road that these applications are not for the middle sections of the western relief road and that, once any decisions are made on the middle sections, all affected landowners and residents will be contacted straight away.

“As it is now, there is no funding currently available to build the middle sections of the road at this time and it could potentially be a decade or more before we’re in a position to start construction.”

The county council and South Holland District Council were recently awarded £12 million from the government’s housing infrastructure fund for the Northern Spalding Sustainable Urban Extension and this section of the Spalding Western Relief Road.

Funding for the construction of the rest of the scheme including third party contributions is currently being reviewed by the county council.