IN order to deliver 4,000 new homes and more than 4,500 new jobs, Wyre Forest district is in critical need of new infrastructure.

The district council is calling for new investment in transport.

To improve access to jobs and industry, the draft Local Development Framework highlights the need for a new link road to open up the former British Sugar site and the Stourport Road Corridor.

The proposed ‘Hoo Brook Link Road’ would connect the A452, Worcester Road, and the A451, Stourport Road, with a new bridge over the River Stour and the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal.

A clear commitment to the Hoo Brook Link Road is being cemented in the latest Development Plan Document. The precise line of the new road has yet to be determined, but it is envisaged that a new junction will be created next to the main entrance to the former British Sugar factory. From here the new link road would head east to span the canal and river and touch down in the vicinity of Hoo Brook Industrial Estate.

The link road forms the centre piece of the proposed Enterprise Zone for south Kidderminster and will help to connect the two extensive industrial corridors of Worcester Road and Stourport Road. These areas are home to more than 5,000 jobs and prominent names including Victoria and Brinton Carpets, Sealine, Vision Labs, Beakbane and OGL to name a few. Discussions are on-going between the authorities and the site owners following a pre-feasibility report into the possible road scheme.

The Hoo Brook Link road will have the added benefit of reducing congestion on the Stourport Road approach to Kidderminster town centre and reducing the traffic at the Worcester Road Island and the southern sections of the town centre ring road. This will enable plans for softening the impact of the ring road to create new development opportunities and public transport improvements.

Councillor John Campion, council leader and cabinet member for economic development and regeneration, said: “The business leaders of Wyre Forest make it clear that transport is uppermost in their minds. The district council want to see urgent action to improve the accessibility of the district. This includes improving access into and out of the district on the A449 and A456.”

He continued: “Within each of the district’s three towns there are crucial projects that could individually and collectively have a big impact. The Hoo Brook Link Road and Kidderminster town centre ring road projects, for example, could unlock the potential of the South Kidderminster Business Park for wealth and jobs.

“We will be working with Worcestershire County Council, Local Enterprise Partnerships and developers to explore options for delivery.”

These plans to reduce the impact of the town centre ring road include improvements to open up Churchfields with a possible new road bridge linking with Crossley Park at the back of the Royal Mail sorting office. The detailed plans for Churchfields are set out in the master plan, which includes a proposed one way (inbound) arrangement for Blackwell Street and new link road through the site of CMS Vauxhall dealership.

Improvements to the infrastructure of Churchfields will be provided as part of the transformation of the Horsefair and the development of more than 600 new homes. The proposed highway works will help to overcome the air quality and congestion associated with this key gateway into the town of Kidderminster. This would be co-ordinated as part of a resurgence of the shopping environment of Blackwell Street and creation of a vibrant and attractive local shopping environment.

The CMS dealership, that will make way for the new road, has recently secured planning permission to build a brand new showroom on the former Romwire site on the Stourport Road in Kidderminster.

Whilst the plan looks to align investment with the proposed South Kidderminster Business Park Enterprise Zone, delivery of the Stourport Relief Road remains a long term ambition of the Core Strategy. In the meantime, this key project will continue to be developed in sections as new developments are realised adjacent to the line of the road.

These include the proposed development of the former Carpets of Worth and Parsons Chain factories in what is being called the ‘eastern approaches’ to Stourport.

The plan not only focuses on new road projects but also improved rail facilities including the potential for a new station at the former British Sugar site. Plans remain in place for an improved rail interchange at Kidderminster Station despite a recent set back with a government funding bid.

Plans to research the town centre public transport interchange facilities will continue to improve key streets and spaces and to realise additional development opportunities.

Councillor Julian Phillips, cabinet member for place shaping, said “We must seek to secure a balanced package of transport improvements that not only improves movement for private vehicles but also public transport, walking and cycling.The plan looks to provide that and maximise the opportunities presented at specific locations to make the essential connections for an improved transport network for the district.”