The delivery of junction 5a on the M2 and the connection of the Southern and Northern Relief Road will give thousands of local businesses and residents an alternative access to the M2 without the need to travel through Sittingbourne Town Centre, junction 5 of the M2 and the already congested A249 corridor. This will deliver huge benefits to job creation, air quality, housing delivery, road functioning and the economic success of the area.
Crucially the infrastructure enhancements come from land value capture i.e funded by the development and delivered in the first phase.
Case Study: Fowler Welch
One of Swale’s major hauliers has undertaken an independent study on the impact they have on the A2 and the benefits to them and to Sittingbourne of the proposed Southern Relief Road and J5a.
The two major business parks in Sittingbourne, Eurolink and Kent Science Park, collectively have nearly 4m sq.ft of space, 600 businesses and 10,000 employees making it the biggest business centre in Kent.
As we all know, Junction 5 is unfit for purpose and is competing for funding from Highways England with a wide range of nationally significant projects for much needed improvements. As a result, an additional junction coming from Central Government is unlikely.
However, amidst a backdrop of a national housing crisis, Swale needs to deliver 9,000 new homes in the plan period – 2022- 2037. Through using Land Value Capture, Highsted Park can use the proceeds generated from the increased land value from getting planning consent to privately fund J5a, the Southern Relief Road and the completion of the Northern Relief Road.