The Welsh government is set to fund and construct a main highway across the country’s largest strategic employment site.
The road is pivotal to kick-start the development of the 420-acre Northern Gateway site on Deeside Enterprise Zone. It will effectively open up the site and unlock its potential, releasing 220 acres of land with the capacity to build 3.1million square feet of employment facilities to accommodate up to 5,000 jobs.
This is in addition to the £2.2 million which the government is currently spending on flood improvement works on a section of river bank which runs along the southern boundary of the site.
It is a strategic investment site and one of only three locations within the Welsh government’s Enterprise Zones that can benefit from the enhanced capital allowances approved by HM Treasury.
First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones said: “The Northern Gateway is the primary location to attract major new investments to the Enterprise Zone and to the region. Outline planning permission has already been granted for the site but the main barrier has been investment in infrastructure so I am pleased to announce the Welsh government is now taking this forward.
“This is a key piece of infrastructure for the Enterprise Zone which will accelerate development. We want to ensure the potential of the site is unlocked as soon as possible, opening up the largest private sector led development in North Wales.
“This is a hugely important project for North Wales with substantial potential to attract new investment and jobs. The access road is the catalyst that will open up the many investment opportunities it represents. We will be appointing consultants to design the road shortly with the aim of submitting planning within the next six months and commencing work on the first phase of the roadway within six months thereafter.”
The announcement follows a legal agreement with Praxis, one of the main landowners, enabling the Welsh government to draw down the land required for the new road and to deliver a further phase through the Pochin Goodman land, opening up the whole site.
It is anticipated that it will take five years to complete the construction of the entire highway.
