Project aims and funding
Why do we need the Great Yarmouth Third River Crossing?
The Great Yarmouth Third River Crossing (“the Proposed Scheme”) is needed to deliver the following objectives:
- To support Great Yarmouth as a centre for both offshore renewable energy and the offshore oil and gas industry, enabling the delivery of renewable energy NSIPs and enhancing the port’s role as an international gateway
- To improve access and strategic connectivity between Great Yarmouth port and the national road network thereby supporting and promoting economic and employment growth (particularly in the Enterprise Zone)
- To support the regeneration of Great Yarmouth, including the town centre and seafront, helping the visitor and retail economy
- To improve regional and local access by enhancing the resilience of the local road network, reducing congestion and improving journey time reliability
- To improve safety and to reduce road casualties and accidents, in part by reducing heavy traffic from unsuitable routes within the town centre
- To improve access to and from the Great Yarmouth peninsula for pedestrians, cyclists and buses, encouraging more sustainable modes of transport and also reducing community severance
- To protect and enhance the environment by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and minimising the environmental impact of the Proposed Scheme
How much would the Proposed Scheme cost and how would it be funded?
In 2017 Norfolk County Council, as highways authority, submitted an Outline Business Case (ie a bid for a funding contribution) to the Department for Transport (DfT). The submission to DfT set out the project cost as approximately £120m. The Autumn Budget 2017 allocated a Government contribution of £98m towards the Proposed Scheme. The remaining cost will be locally funded and is likely to come from a range of sources.
Can this Government funding be used for other local transport proposals?
No, the funding contribution from the DfT specifically relates to the Proposed Scheme. Therefore the funding cannot be used on other transport schemes.