Work has started on a controversial link road connecting to the M6 over greenbelt land.
The ECHO reported in November how plans for the development on former Parkside colliery were approved by secretary of state Michael Gove, and had been the subject of great debate across Newton-le-Willows.
Part of the plans included a new £38m link road connecting the site to junction 22 of the M6 motorway, built on land which is currently green space.
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The plans are a joint venture between St Helens Borough Council and developer Langtree.
St Helens Borough Council claims the link road is crucial to unlocking the full economic potential of the former colliery site.
Parkside colliery, which sits just south of Newton-le-Willows, was one of the last coal mines left open in the Lancashire Coalfield, having opened in 1974, and closing in 1993.
Councillor Andy Bowden, St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: The Parkside Link Road is one of the biggest infrastructure projects our borough and the region has seen in many years and will provide a huge boost to development while reducing the impact on our local road networks.
“This project shows that we are determined to unlock the huge potential of the wider site which has lay derelict for too long – bringing much needed jobs to the area – and capitalise on the site’s unique rail freight positioning to encourage sustainable industry.”
John Downes, chairman of Parkside Regeneration and the Chief Executive of Langtree said: "The link road is the logical and efficient route in and out of the site and is designed to take pressure off the A49 and local junctions when the site is fully operational."
Work on the link road will be carried out between 7.30am and 6.30pm each day, Monday to Friday and 9.00 – 2.00pm on Saturdays.
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