A major new road linking Locking and West Wick is set to bring thousands of jobs to the area.

The North South Link Road, which will form the main link through Parklands Village, will create 2,700 new jobs and provide infrastructure for 1,800 new homes.

Running from A371 in Locking towards Churchland Way in West Wick, the road will connect thousands of homes on the edge of Weston, as well as providing access to the new Parklands Educate Together Primary School – which will open in April 2020. It operates from a temporary site at the moment.

It will pass through council-owned land, the Mead Realisations development and St Modwen’s Parklands site.

Construction began on a 300-metre stretch of the A371 Locking Moor Road earlier this week and is set to be completed in time for the school’s opening.

A new 40mph speed limit will be introduced approaching the works, as well as a 30mph speed limit where the work is taking place.

Two temporary crossing points will be introduced to direct pedestrians and cyclists around the works.

The project is expected to cost about £13million and is being undertaken by Balfour Beatty.

Cllr Elfan Ap Rees, executive member for highways, said: “The traffic management measures are necessary to ensure the safety of site workers and to maintain pedestrian and cycle access along the A371.

“We are having detailed discussions with the contractor to ensure any disruption is kept to the absolute minimum.”

The council says the road will entice new businesses to the area, with ‘good access to the M5 and good public transport connections to the town centre’.

The North South Link Road is part of the council’s plan to provide 10,000 new jobs and 6,500 new homes in the villages surrounding Weston, split across three sites – Parklands Village and Haywood Village, as well as the Weston Business Quarter on the former Weston Airfield.

The plan also includes Parklands Educate Together Primary School and a new food and drink innovation centre - designed to attract new business to the area.

Cllr Ap Rees added: “We have worked hard to secure external funding to finance these ambitious schemes.

“We hope it will stimulate growth in Weston by delivering much-needed jobs and new homes.”