AFTER years of delay and legal battles, work on Cinderford’s ‘Northern Quarter’ finally got under way this week on land off Newtown Road.

Contractors have started to prepare the ground at the former mining area ready for construction of the access road.

These works will kick start a regeneration scheme set to unlock £100m of investment into the area, creating 1,000 new jobs and around 200 new homes for the local community.

The Forest of Dean District Council approved the Homes and Communities Agency’s planning application to build a new access road, business space, education campus and homes in November 2014.

This week’s milestone follows months of conservation work at the site to ensure that the Forest of Dean’s wildlife species and natural habitats are protected and can be monitored both during and following the development.

David Warburton, Head of Area at the Homes and Communities Agency said: “We’re preparing the ground for what is a once a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the community at Cinderford and the Forest of Dean.

“What we’re creating will bring long term employment, amenities and opportunities for local people and businesses, in a beautiful forest setting.”

Councillor Graham Morgan, Chairman of the Cinderford Regeneration Board, added: “It’s great to see contractors hard at work in the Northern Quarter.

“We have been pushing for this new road in Cinderford for many years. Not only will it open the site for new investment, it will help to divert traffic away from Steam Mills when completed.”

Cllr Patrick Molyneux, Leader of the Forest of Dean District Council said: “The start of the works for the access road is a significant leap forward for our regeneration plans in Cinderford.

“Our painstaking efforts to protect the biodiversity of the site before this development began, stands us in good stead in environmental terms for many years to come.”

Councillor Will Windsor-Clive, cabinet member for fire, planning and infrastructure at Gloucestershire County Council said: “The Cinderford Northern Quarter scheme will unlock more than £100m in investment for Cinderford and the Forest of Dean.

“The new spine road is a key element of the overall project and we’re committed to making sure it’s built in a sensitive and sustainable manner. We’re very excited to see the preparation work for construction of phase one begin.”

Clearing work will continue at the site for approximately six weeks with work on the first phase of the access road expected to start in early 2016.