News: Planning approval for airport link road

Improved access to South Yorkshire's Airport took a step closer this week as Doncaster Council's planning department approved a new multi million pound road link.

The Finningley and Rossington Regeneration Route Scheme (FARRRS) will see a new link road from Junction 3 of the M18 serving the south-east of Doncaster making a trip to the airport even easier for those travelling from all areas including Sheffield, Rotherham and further afield.

The new road is expected to reduce journey times for airport passengers and cargo operators from Sheffield by up to 20 minutes. It will also provide the required transport infrastructure for a number of significant private sector developments to start in Rossington and at the airport. A dual carriageway will lead from the M18 towards Rossington and support a planned inland port.

Steve Gill, airport director for Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield, said: "This is fantastic news, not just for the airport but for the region. In the long term this development could lead to the creation of over 20,000 jobs and the investment of over £1.5bn. This will be a transformational project.

"The road is a critical component in the drive to further develop airport connectivity which will act as a catalyst in the continued development of Doncaster and the wider Sheffield city region. The delivery of this much needed infrastructure will truly place the airport at the heart of the Sheffield city region, positioning the facility as the natural airport of choice."

Last year, Doncaster Council and its private sector partners secured £18m from the government's Regional Growth Fund to progress the project. In April, the board of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) approved a £2m Growing Places Fund bid for the road.

James Newman, chairman of the Sheffield City Region LEP, said: "I am pleased to see the FARRRS road has the Planning Committee's support as this is a project that the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership fully supports.

"The new link road will greatly improve the Sheffield city region's connections with its national and international markets, bringing a substantial number of new jobs and millions of pounds of local investment."

DSA Airport website

Images: robinhoodairport.com