Revised plans for Rushden Lakes link road recommended for approval

Revised plans for a Rushden Lakes link road will be discussed by councillors next week.

While planning permission had already been granted for a link road, Shoemaker Gp Ltd has submitted an amended application for land west of the retail and leisure development.

It is for construction of a new link road between Ditchford Road and Rushden Lakes alongside junction works, car parking, footpaths, cycleways, lighting, drainage works, landscaping and associated works.

These plans also include reconfiguration of existing car parking and service yard areas and the temporary storage of excavated material for a period of up to five years.

A report prepared for East Northants Council's planning management committee states: "The application, as with the original link road application, is for earthworks and to create a new single carriageway link road across the agricultural land between Ditchford Lane and the Rushden Lakes development.

"Its purpose would be to provide a second point of access into Rushden Lakes, and to alleviate congestion both at, and in the vicinity of the A45 Skew Bridge roundabout."

If approved, the link road would be single carriageway and have four points of access.

These would be a northbound access into the service yard of the leisure building, a direct link into the Rushden Lakes car park, a junction/link to the southern service road for Rushden Lakes and a pedestrian link to the neighbouring petrol station/hotel site.

There would be two bus stops and a series of zebra crossings close to the Rushden Lakes entrance.

The report concludes by saying: "To date, Rushden Lakes has generated more vehicular traffic than envisaged and more phases have opened since the previous link road permission was issued, which will have increased traffic levels further.

"On that basis, a second access into Rushden Lakes not only seems sensible, but in reality will be vital as the retail and hospitality sectors recover from the effects of the Covid pandemic (which has temporarily reduced traffic levels).

"The link road should alleviate some of the congestion at the A45 Skew Bridge roundabout.

"At the time of writing the report, the ecological impact is felt to be comparable to the original scheme, and when compared with the originally approved road, the layout is considerably better, particularly at the Rushden Lakes end, which will be to the benefit of all users.

"Connectivity is now also proposed to the neighbouring hotel site and overall the proposal would offer better connectivity to both Rushden and Wellingborough for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists."

Officers have recommended that planning permission is granted subject to the satisfactory resolution of ecological/SPA concerns and subject to conditions.

The application will be considered at a virtual meeting at 6.30pm on Wednesday, January 20.

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