Newton Abbot link road approved

It's for approximately 400 metres of highway between the A382 and West Golds Way

Plans for a new link road in Newton Abbot that aims to reduction congestion in the town have been approved.

Devon County Council’s development management committee on Wednesday afternoon unanimously granted planning permission for the approximately 380 metres of highway between the A382 and West Golds Way.

The link between the A382 and West Golds Way aims to mitigate the impact of development traffic on Churchill’s roundabout, reduce congestion and increase capacity for traffic accessing Newton Abbot town centre, the meeting at County Hall heard.

Cllr Jackie Hook, who represents the Newton Abbot North ward in which the road would be built, said there was huge public support for the link road and everyone who has said in the queues of traffic on that side of town this summer will be relieved to know the road is on the way.

The new road, which also includes pedestrian and cycle facilities, would connect the existing cul-de-sac by Newton Abbot Hospital to a newly proposed roundabout where the Exeter Road connects to Bovey Tracey Road.

Outline plans for the Jetty Marsh II road had been approved back in 2017 when a raft of other improvements to the A382 were granted, but Mike Deaton, Chief Planner, told the committee that this application altered the alignment so it avoided the existing public open space at Orleigh Cross which was no longer deliverable.

Cllr Hook said: “There is huge public support for this link road. People have been waiting a long time for this to come forward and the delay with the need to realign the road led to feeling that it may never happen, so this is welcome news.

“This is a hugely important link road, especially with all the development planned, and all the people who were sat in the traffic congestion this summer will be relieved to know the road is on the way.”

Cllr George Gribble, whose Bovey Rural ward borders the planned road, added: “This will alleviate congestion for traffic going into Newton Abbot and without this the additional traffic generated by the A382 widening which just be held up at the Churchill’s roundabout and queue back onto the A382.

“This is an integral part of the much needed improvements on the road from Trago Mills to Newton Abbot and will improve the function of the road and increase its resilience.”

Councillors agreed that the new route had a better layout than the previously consented road and that raising of the carriageway above the predicted flood level would provide a safe and dry route to the community hospital even in the event of an extreme flood.

Mr Deaton had recommended the scheme be approved by the committee, and it received unanimous backing.

No details as to when construction would begin or when the road would open, but information on Devon County Council’s website for Phase 3 of the A382 upgrade scheme, which includes the Jetty Marsh II scheme, states construction is set to start in 2023.