The new A50 junction '3A' will be positioned between junction 4 (A43 Toyota island, adjacent to the East Midlands Intermodal Park (EMIP site)) and junction 3 (A514 Bonnie Prince roundabout) and will make use of an existing bridge under the A50, on Deep Dale Lane. The new junction will provide connectivity from the A50 into the Derby suburb of Sinfin on the southern outskirts of Derby, 3 miles (4.8 km) southwest of the city centre.
A new roundabout arm off of the A50 junction will lead onto a 1.6km new link road connecting Deep Dale Lane - which runs north/south out of Sinfin - and Infinity Park Way road, which runs from junction 3 'Chellaston Interchange' of the A50 into the south of Derby, via the Infinity Park iHub, as shown on the masterplan attached to this page. This will open up the area to the south of Derby for planned development, known as the Infinity Garden Village.
Infinity Garden Village
Infinity Garden Village (IGV) in Derbyshire is one of the first 14 identified garden villages by the government and comprises 3,500 dwellings, over 4 million square feet of employment development and a secondary school.
The objective of the IGV is to create a sustainable community to the south of the Derby, delivering around 1,850 new homes on the land south of Wragley Way. This development is the subject of a pending planning application on South Derbyshire District Council planning pages. The new infrastructure would unlock further land for development, subject to successful planning applications.
The site will also support the delivery of up to 5,000 new jobs with associated infrastructure and community facilities. This includes a primary and secondary school, and a new local centre, all set within high quality green (landscaped areas) and blue (like lakes and ponds) infrastructure to provide the garden village with its own distinct character.
The scheme aims to:
- support economic growth
- provide a safe and serviceable network
- a more free-flowing network
- improved environment
- an accessible and integrated network
Funding
It was announced in November 2021 that the project has successfully secured £49.6 million of government funding following a successful bid to the Department for Transport's (DfT) Levelling Up Funding (LUF).
Planning applications
Planning permission was granted, subject to conditions, by both ourselves and Derby City Council in April 2021 for construction of the following elements of the scheme:
- a new all-movement junction on the A50
- the connecting link road to Infinity Park Way along with associated works such as street lighting, footways, cycleways, acoustic fencing
- landscaped areas and earth mounds
- flood storage areas
Full details of the approved applications can be found at our planning portal (planning reference CD9/0319/110) and the Derby City Council planning portal (planning reference 19/00417/FUL). The deadline for comments has now passed.
Environmental impacts
Environmental impacts have been considered throughout the duration of the project planning stage and in consultation with the Environment Agency and other statutory consultees.
A full environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been carried out which is a formal process to ensure that the impact on the environment will be minimised and lessened where necessary.
The following surveys have been included in the environmental statement, submitted as part of the planning application:
- transport assessment
- flood risk assessment and surface water drainage strategy
- ecological surveys and impact assessment
- archaeological and cultural heritage assessment
- noise and vibration assessments
- landscape and visual impact assessment
- air quality assessment
- topographical survey
- ground conditions
- tree survey
- green infrastructure strategy
Protecting the environment
We're working hard to protect Sinfin Moor Local Nature Reserve which is situated nearby.
Proposals include:
- creating new wetland habitats, including ponds, grassland and wooded areas to benefit wading birds, dragonflies, damselflies and a range of other wildlife
- new grassland habitats, including traditionally managed wildflower meadows using seeds collected from the local nature reserve
- new woodland and scrub habitats to help screen the road, in addition to keeping the existing black poplars
- new quiet wildlife areas and areas for more formal and educational use, including circular walkways
Land requirement
The new infrastructure, required to support the development of the area can only be delivered with the acquisition of private land.
We hope to acquire all land required through negotiations and agreements with each landowner. However, it's normal practice to simultaneously prepare a compulsory purchase order.
Outline timetable
Indicative timescales (subject to change) are as follows and will be updated as the project progresses:
- carry out surveys, detailed design and acquire land - mid 2022 to late 2023
- construction period - early 2024 to mid 2025