Approval for proposed A382 improvements

Plans to improve the A382 near Drumbridges have been approved by Devon County Council.

The Council’s Development Management Committee today (Wednesday 7 June) agreed proposals for an upgrade to the route to Newton Abbot which will improve journey times and safety.

The scheme will involve straightening the alignment of the road, widening the section from Trago Mills to White Hills Cross and developing a section of dual carriageway between Drumbridges and the Trago Mills Roundabout.

Along with a new road to be developed from White Hills Cross to West Golds Way (Jetty Marsh II), the scheme would support economic growth and help in the delivery of planned housing development to the west of Newton Abbot. Shared footpaths/cyclepaths are also planned as part of the scheme to encourage sustainable travel.

The A382 is a main connection from Newton Abbot to the A38, but it is the eighth worst A-road in Devon in terms of safety, with two fatal collisions in the past five years. Traffic flows are high with more than 900 vehicles per hour southbound during evening rush hour. The widening scheme would increase capacity, and the new link would alleviate future congestion.

Councillor Jerry Brook, Chairman of the Development Management Committee, said: “This scheme will create a new gateway to Newton Abbot which will be safer and provide more reliable journey times. In reaching its unanimous decision, the Committee considered that the benefits of this scheme outweigh the impacts as a number of mitigation measures will be made to minimise the noise impact and impact on the local environment.”

Councillor Jackie Brodie, County Councillor for Newton Abbot North, said: “The A382 is hugely important to Newton Abbot but it is widely recognised that it is sub-standard for all road users. It’s a long awaited road improvement that will not just benefit safety, but cut down on the amount of 'rat running' through Highweek Village , and through the provision of a wide shared use cycle/footway will also encourage people to travel by other means than the car.”

Councillor George Gribble, County Councillor for Bovey Rural, said: “The road in its current state won’t be able to deal with the traffic flows that the new developments will create, and its safety record already needs to be improved. This scheme will bring many benefits to the area.”

Teignbridge District Council’s Leader, Councillor Jeremy Christophers, said: “This investment for a ‘golden thread’ through the heart of the district is crucial to the development of our local economy. It connects Kingsteignton and Newton Abbot to the A38 Expressway, but an equal benefit, is that it also binds Bovey Tracey and Heathfield into quicker access to the heart of Teignbridge. This is more than just a road - as it will also provide cycleways and walking routes. I am very excited that this will deliver jobs, homes and leisure opportunities for the future.”

Newton Abbot Town council fully support the proposals. No objections were raised by Teignbridge District Council's planning department, the Environment Agency, and Devon Gardens Trust. Natural England also raised no objections subject to mitigation measures to protect bats. Although the scheme would impact on Stover Golf Club, the County Council has planning permission to enable remodelling of the course to move five holes which would be on land required by the new road.

The improvement scheme would be carried out in three phases, with phase one covering Newton Abbot to Forches Cross (including Jetty Marsh II), Phase two from Forches Cross to Trago Mills Roundabout and phase three the dual carriageway section between the Trago Mills Roundabout and the A38.