Work starts at Peppermint Junction

Representatives from the Greater Lincolnshire LEP joined other partners to officially break ground in Holbeach ahead of works starting to improve the current A17/A151 junction by installing a new, three-arm roundabout, as well as a new four-arm roundabout on the A151.

The £5.4m scheme will not only improve the safety of the current junction, but also provide access to residential land to the east of the A151 and open up development land to the west of the A151 for the creation of Peppermint Park, Holbeach: A Food Enterprise Village, which will include a Food Enterprise Zone (FEZ) and 900 new homes.

Eurovia UK has been officially identified as the preferred contractor to undertake the Peppermint Junction and Food Enterprise Zone works. The firm will be officially appointed following a formal evaluation.

Cllr Richard Davies, Lincolnshire County Council's Executive Member for Highways, said: "Today is a fantastic day for Holbeach, as it signifies that we are well on our way to officially starting improvement works at Peppermint Junction and creating a South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone.

"We are very much looking forward to working with Eurovia UK once construction officially starts in May.

"When complete, these improvements will not only create a safer route for drivers and less traffic in the town centre, but also provide access to development land for housing and the South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone."

The FEZ is designed to support agrifood businesses, with a particular focus on the food technology sector. When complete, the multi-million pound development will create around 59,000sq m of new business space, capable of supporting over 2,000 jobs. The University of Lincoln has outline planning consent to move part of its existing Holbeach campus to a new, purpose-built facility within the FEZ.

Cllr Colin Davie, a Board Director of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, said: “The food sector, particularly agri-food and food manufacturing, are of enormous importance to Greater Lincolnshire – it’s our third biggest sector and contributes £2.5 billion every year to the area’s economy. 

"By developing land for the South Lincolnshire FEZ, we want to support existing businesses, while also attracting those interested in investing and relocating to the county."

Funding for the project includes £2.4m from the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Growth Fund, with the remaining to come from developers and the county council. 

Ruth Carver, Director of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The Greater Lincolnshire LEP is delighted to be supporting the construction of key highways infrastructure to enable the development of the South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone (FEZ) at Holbeach.

“The £2.4m Growth Deal grant for Peppermint Junction will create a new roundabout access point, supporting the emerging masterplan for the wider site and kick-starting commercial and residential development. The FEZ will also be home to an Agri-Food Centre of Excellence being led by the University of Lincoln.”