What is the Mansfield-Ashfield Regeneration Route?

It's the nine-mile road between the M1 and Mansfield via Ashfield. It was built with £34.25m, after the Coalfield Task Force said links had to improve with the M1 for prospects to improve.

The plan was to create a corridor of new development sites, attracting high value businesses to regenerate the area. And it is working well.

Five years on, £480m has been invested and nearly 2,000 jobs have opened up along what's now called Sherwood Way. There's more to come - up to 10,000 jobs could be created in total.

Investors have been encouraged by the Sherwood Growth Zone Partnership, a very successful example of authorities working together and with the private sector to address the area's major economic problems.

Its members are Mansfield, Ashfield, and Newark and Sherwood councils, Nottinghamshire County Council and West Notts College.

The partners agree that: 'Opening up development sites for new businesses and homes along the MARR is the area's only realistic hope for long-term economic recovery.

'MARR is providing a much-needed lifeline connecting north Nottinghamshire with the rest of the UK and overseas markets, bringing with it the quality of businesses and jobs needed.'