Thousands of new jobs in pipeline as £16m transport funding approved
A £16m funding package, which will create up to 4,400 jobs, has been approved to help unlock the next planned phases of development in the Lower Don Valley.
Transport Minister Baroness Kramer announced a package of measures for Yorkshire buses, which are “vital” to meet the transport demands in the area and boost the local economy.
The package includes a high quality Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service connecting the centres of Rotherham and Sheffield with each other and with existing and proposed development sites in the Lower Don Valley, and a new highway link under the M1, the “Tinsley Link”, between Meadowhall Way and Sheffield Road.
Baroness Kramer said: “This is great news for bus users between Sheffield and Rotherham who will benefit from quicker, more reliable services.
“The coalition government is committed to investing in public transport to offer real transport choices for the people of Yorkshire. Buses are a major link for many people, and help drive economic growth.
“This £16 million of investment will help unlock the next planned phases of development in the Lower Don Valley, and create up to 4,400 new jobs.”
Today’s announcement grants full and final approval meaning work on the scheme can begin.
Dominic Beck, policy and external affairs executive at Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, said: “This is great news for bus users between Sheffield and Rotherham who will benefit from quicker, more reliable services. Buses are a major link for many people and help drive economic growth. It should also ease congestion around what has been a ‘troublesome hotspot’ at Meadowhall.”
Patrick Abel, M&A partner at BDO in Sheffield, added: “The Government’s announcement to assist with the construction of the new link road near to the congestion bottleneck around Meadowhall will give Sheffield City Region (SCR) a much needed boost. This should unlock developments in retail, logistics and construction, as well as aid workforce movements particularly between Sheffield and Rotherham.
“Hopefully this may also assist IKEA to push ahead with its retail development close to junction 34 of the M1 and ease fears of further congestion.
“The Lower Don Valley, with its mix of retail, manufacturing and commerce, is the engine room of SCR and therefore additional investment in infrastructure is critical to its development. Good quality access for public and private transport is an important ingredient in making the area competitive and providing access to a skilled workforce. Investment in infrastructure will of course also result in additional jobs both for the construction sector as well as the opening up of unused sites particularly on the Rotherham side of the M1.”
The department will provide a maximum of £15.9m towards the full scheme cost of £28.2m.
The scheme was one of those given funding approval in late 2011 as part of the Spending Review process.
The project is scheduled to complete in September 2015.
