Major milestone reached in battle to secure Long Stratton bypass
Proposals for the long-awaited Long Stratton bypass are to be submitted this month.
A business case, which outlines any preliminary thoughts, risks and possible outcomes of the project, is set to be handed to the Government in the hope of securing the £27 million required to pay for the road.
The latest development will come as welcome news to residents in Long Stratton, who for decades have had to put up with streams of traffic passing through the village along the A140.
Last year, the Department for Transport (DfT) made £570,000 available to Norfolk County Council in order to produce a business case for the bypass.
The business case estimates the current overall cost of the bypass would be £37.44 million, 70 per cent of which would be funded through the DfT’s Major Road Network Fund and 30 per cent from local contributions.
Martin Wilby, cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport at Norfolk County Council, said that if the £27 million being asked for by the council is awarded, it would benefit both residents and commuters alike.
“The A140 through Long Stratton is a real pinch-point that affects thousands of road users, and the people who live and work in Long Stratton, on a daily basis,” he said.
“We remain committed to this vital scheme, which will cut congestion, help the local economy and vastly improve this major route linking Norwich and Ipswich.
“The bypass is set to create hundreds of new jobs and homes, open up improvements for cycling and walking, and solve issues local people have been facing for more than a generation.”
Proposing a business case is just one of a multitude of approvals that must be made before the project goes ahead.
This summer, South Norfolk Council is due to make a decision on existing planning applications connected with the road.
The bypass – a single carriageway road – would extend from the junction between the A140 and Church Lane. If it goes ahead, it is estimated that it would create 625 jobs and 1,800 new homes.
