Green light for Forder Valley Link Road

Plans for a brand new link road connecting William Prance Road in Derriford with the junction of Forder Valley Road and Novorossiysk Road have been granted planning permission.

The multi-million pound scheme will create an additional route from the east of the city to the north, avoiding the often heavily congested Manadon Roundabout and A386 Tavistock Road.

This will not only reduce journey times and improve traffic flow between the A38 and Derriford but also provide essential infrastructure needed to unlock growth in the north of the city.

It will make it easier to get to key destinations such as Derriford Hospital, the University of St Mark and St John and Plymouth Science Park, improve bus service reliability and provide safer walking and cycling routes.

The nearby Local Nature Reserve will be extended as part of the scheme and links provided from the new road to paths within the planned Derriford Community Park, connecting local residents and road users with the natural environment.

Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Strategic Transport and Infrastructure, said: “This is a very important milestone for a scheme that will provide vital extra capacity on Plymouth’s road network and help to deliver new jobs and homes in the north of the city.

“The new link will connect Forder Valley Road and Brest Road, providing better access between the A38 and Derriford and reducing pressure on Manadon roundabout and the A386 Tavistock Road.

“It will also complement other improvements in the area such as the Derriford Transport Scheme, the Derriford Hospital Interchange and the Marjon Link Road, as well as the planned widening of the A386 between Woolwell and The George.”

The north of Plymouth is set grow significantly over the next 15 years, having been identified in the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan to deliver 4,300 new homes and a new district centre with shops, community and leisure and health facilities.

The Department for Transport has earmarked £22.56m towards the £37.9m scheme and Highways England has awarded £4.47m from its Growth and Housing Fund.

Initial enabling works are expected to be carried out early next year, with the main construction getting under way in the spring and taking around two years.

We will be contacting residents and businesses in the area in early autumn to update them on progress and explain the scheme and works in more detail.