What is the Northern Distributor Road and how will it affect you?

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Map of the Northern Distributor Road

The Norwich Northern Distributor Road (NDR) is a £178.95 million scheme to build a 20km dual-carriageway connecting the A47 at Postwick to the south east of the city, the proposed Rackheath Eco-town, and Norwich International airport. The scheme was given the go ahead in June 2015 with work starting in 2016. When complete in March 2018, more than 150,000 tonnes of asphalt will be used on the NDR. Although there are many outlined positives to the new road, many people have voiced their concerns. We will take a closer look at both the positives and negatives of the NDR.

Positives

The NDR has many potential positives for Norfolk and Norwich. It is believed to bring a potential of over £1bn of economic benefits to Norfolk by providing jobs, helping businesses in Norwich, providing easier access to business sites, and uncovering new business sites in north east Norwich and Broadland. It will also provide easier access to Norwich International Airport and the surrounding businesses. One of the main benefits of the NDR is the shorter and less congested journey routes it will provide by diverting around 40,000 vehicles a day from other less suitable roads. It will improve traffic for much of North Norfolk and Broadland and will even reduce congestion and improve public transport services in Norwich city centre.

Negatives

Although the Northern Distributor Road has a number of potential positives, there are also those opposed to the new road. Critics of the NDR have labelled it as the ‘road to nowhere’, as they believe that access to the road from Costessey and Taverham will be extremely difficult and could cause further congestion in certain areas. A number of people have also voiced their criticisms that the NDR won’t provide a much needed link between the A47 and A11, and Norwich Airport and the A140 Cromer Road. Others have put forward their opinion that the increased miles that the road will add to many journeys will force hauliers to continue using routes already in place. There are also a number of environmental concerns; such as the additional 25,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions it could produce in the first year, as well as the negative impact on several protected species including barn owls and bats.

For more information on the NDR, click here.

If you live in the close proximity of the NDR and would like to know the impact it could have on the value of your home, get in touch! We can be reached on 01603 300900 or by email: [email protected].