PLANS for Phase Two of the Cross Hands Economic Link road have been submitted for planning approval.

A year after Carmarthenshire County Council confirmed its preferred route for the £14.75million road, its technical services department has submitted the plans for approval.

The proposed development of Phase Two will link the town’s East Strategic Employment Site and the A476 Llandeilo Road with junctions to Black Lion Road, Norton Road and Llandeilo Road.

The application, which was submitted under the Penygroes and Llandybie wards, also includes a scheme for associated drainage and landscaping works together with the demolition of two properties with associated garages, at the Forge, Black Lion Road and 101 Norton Road, Penygroes.

The application comes two months after it was announced that £450,000 had been earmarked by the Welsh Government for this second phase of a road that has been described as a transformational scheme of regional importance in the Swansea Bay City Region Local Transport Plan.

It is predicted that the road will open up the Cross Hands East strategic employment site, has the potential to create up to 1,500 new jobs and will provide access to a housing and mixed-use development at Emlyn Brickworks.

It will also improve journey times along the M4/A48/A40 corridor by alleviating pressure on the Cross Hands roundabout.

During her visit, Mrs Hart said: “This new road is vital to Carmarthenshire Council’s economic development plans and will be a spur to create hundreds of new jobs. It’s an excellent example of the type of schemes supported through the Local Transport Fund to drive our priorities for jobs and growth, by improving access to employment sites and Enterprise Zones.”

Carmarthenshire Council have said that the development will maximise the opportunity from the key growth area of Ammanford and Cross Hands- an area which has been identified within the emerging Swansea Bay City Region as well as the Swansea Bay Regional Economic Strategy.