Broadland Northway

The Broadland Northway (NDR) scheme is a dual carriageway, strategic distributor road, which links the A1067 Fakenham Road, near Attlebridge and Norwich Airport, to the A47 trunk road at Postwick. The entire length of the route is approximately 20km and includes eight roundabouts at intersections with existing radial routes. The scheme also includes many new lengths of cycleway/bridleway/footpaths. Most of the route is within the administrative boundary of Broadland District Council, apart from the stretch of road closest to Norwich Airport which is within the administrative boundary of Norwich City Council. A small part of the works at Postwick fall within the administrative area of The Broads Authority.

Its objectives cover economic growth and development ambitions for the area. The scheme seeks to relieve traffic congestion on the existing road network within the urban area and to the north of the city centre, and to facilitate planned growth. It unlocks new business sites, particularly in North-East Norwich and Broadland, as well as improving access to existing industrial and commercial sites.

The scheme delivers a range of outcomes in relation to economic growth and development, traffic congestion and environmental enhancements. It facilitates the delivery of around 10,000 new homes and the creation of 12,000 new jobs and reduces traffic congestion on a series of key routes. The environmental mitigation includes provision of new wildlife habitats, the creation of ‘naturalistic’ land forms and extensive tree and shrub planting, both to screen the road and develop habitats.

The GNGB drew down £40m of borrowing from the Public Works Loan Board to support this project. The Broadland Northway was identified a strategic priority for the GNGB, as it aligns closely with our objectives of delivering infrastructure to support growth. The road is a key piece of infrastructure necessary to enable the overall delivery of the Joint Core Strategy (JCS) housing and jobs targets, and also supports growth outlined in the new local plan.

As part of the funding process from DfT Norfolk County Council are required to submit One Year After and Five year After reports to demonstrate that the scheme is delivering its objectives and providing good value for money. As a condition of the Development Consent Order Norfolk County Council are also required to monitor the success of the environmental mitigation with bat monitoring going on for 15 years post completion and great crested newts, barn owls and breeding birds for a lesser period.

This ongoing monitoring is demonstrating that Broadland Northway is delivering its objectives and outcomes. Whilst development has been delayed due to Covid it is now proceeding apace. Post construction traffic counts and journey times studies have provided information on traffic reduction on various routes and congestion and one of the new habitats provided for wildlife is now a County Wildlife Site.

aerial photos courtesy of Mike Page