Green light for multi-million-pound scheme to upgrade the A47 in Peterborough
National Highway's A47 Wansford to Sutton dualling scheme has been given formal planning permission by the Transport Minister to start construction
A multi-million-pound project to improve safety and reduce congestion on the A47 in Peterborough has today been given the green light by the Transport Minister Huw Merriman.
The Transport Minister Huw Merriman approved National Highways’ plans to transform a 1.6-mile single section of the A47 between Wansford and Sutton into a dual carriageway with the granting of a development consent order (DCO). A DCO is a way of obtaining planning permission for a project which is seen as nationally important for the infrastructure of the country.
The changes will also see a new free-flow link road constructed between the southbound A1 and the eastbound carriageway of the A47 to alleviate frequent congestion. Improvements will also be made to nearby roundabouts and junctions, as well as new and enhanced routes for walkers, cyclists, and horse riders.
The scheme also aims to provide an overall positive Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), which will be realised through a focus to retain existing habitats and to compensate any habitat loss through the creation of new habitats such as, grassland, hedgerows, ponds and woodland.
Granting the DCO means work on the project could begin this spring with completion expected by winter 2024/25.
This scheme, which could cost up to a £100 million, is one of six major improvement projects and almost half a billion pounds of investment National Highways plans to deliver on the 115-mile section of the A47 between Peterborough and Great Yarmouth.
The first of these – a £17 million upgrade to Guyhirn junction in Cambridgeshire – officially opened in May last year.
All six projects are designed to improve safety and reduce journey times on the A47, which is currently one of the country’s most dangerous A-roads.
Traffic data suggests the section of the A47 between the Wansford junction with the A1 and the Nene Way roundabout near Sutton carries over 34,000 vehicles each day.
Following the proposed improvements, casualty projections over the next 60 years indicate that as many as 42 fatal or serious injury collisions could be prevented, with up to 160 fewer accidents.
Chris Griffin, Programme Leader for the A47 National Highways, said:
“Today’s news is very welcome and is testament to the hard work and professionalism of all those who have contributed to getting the proposals granted in this important planning decision.
“Those who regularly travel on this section of the A47 will know what a bottleneck it can be. Our plans will relieve that problem, make the road safer, and improve journey times.”
The government currently faces legal challenges on three other National Highways projects on the A47 near Norwich.
Mr Griffin added: “As we continue to work through the legal process for the schemes that have been challenged, we know from our recent public information events that improvements to the A47 are supported by local people.”
Notes to Editors
A decision on the DCO for the A47 Wansford to Sutton improvements was originally expected on 11 January 2023, but this was extended until the 17 February 2023 to allow the Secretary of State for Transport additional time for consultation on some outstanding scheme issues.
Three schemes on the A47 near Norwich are currently subject to judicial review. This follows a legal challenge against the decision from the Secretary of State for Transport to grant DCOs to the schemes. Those schemes are:
- A47 Blofield - North Burlingham dual carriageway improvement (DCO 22 Jun ‘22)
- A47 Tuddenham - North Easton dual carriageway improvement (DCO 12 Aug ‘22)
- A47/A11 Thickthorn junction redevelopment (DCO 14 Oct ‘22)
Work on all three schemes that are subject to legal challenge had been expected to start very shortly after their respective DCOs were granted, but this had to be put on hold due to legal proceedings and ahead of a judicial review taking place.
National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.
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