What's happening with the legal challenge...

We are disappointed to let you know that we won’t be starting construction on the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet scheme this month like we had initially planned.    

Planning permission (called a Development Consent Order) was granted by the Secretary of State back in August 2022 and we have been busy preparing for construction.  

However Transport Action Network (TAN) submitted an application to the High Court for permission for a judicial review of the Secretary of State’s decision to grant the A428 Development Consent Order. They are challenging the Secretary of State’s decision on the grounds of biodiversity, need for the scheme and climate change.   

We were hoping a decision on the application could be made before the end of the year but the decision is now looking as though it will happen early 2023, because of this we have had to delay the start of construction. 

As this is an ongoing legal case we can’t provide any further information. However, we are continuing to assess the impact and will provide you with further updates as quickly as possible.   

Following our recent public information events we know the improvements are very much wanted by local people, commuters and businesses. We are continuing our surveys of land, water, ecology and finalising the design of junctions and bridges to minimise impact when we start building the road.  

Our plans will help transform the region, improving journeys between Milton Keynes, Bedford, St Neots and Cambridge by bringing communities together and supporting long-term regional growth.