A38 Derby junctions

The A38 is an important route from Birmingham to Derby and through to the M1 at junction 28. Where it passes through Derby, long distance traffic interacts with a large volume of vehicles making local journeys causing congestion and delays.

Start date TBC

End date TBC

Cost TBC

Latest updates

10 March 2025

Scheme update and upcoming survey work

Following our Development Consent Order (DCO) being regranted on the 17 August 2023, the scheme was subject to a legal challenge. We’re pleased to share this has now concluded, with the judge ruling in favour of the DCO.

Why this scheme matters

The A38 through Derby is vital for the region’s economy and daily commutes. However, the current capacity at the three roundabouts leads to frequent congestion, poor journey time reliability, and safety concerns. This impacts local businesses, residents, and key industries such as aerospace, manufacturing, and logistics.

Our improvement scheme is designed to separate local traffic from the strategic road network (SRN), enhancing safety, reducing delays, and providing more reliable journey times.

The scheme supports the government’s growth agenda, by helping to enable a predicted demand for over 43,000 new homes by 2040 (Midlands Connect) and boost regional economic growth. In addition, it’ll improve connections for businesses like Rolls Royce, Toyota, Bombardier, and those in the Infinity Park Enterprise Zone.

Our next steps

Now the legal challenge has concluded, we’re continuing to plan and prepare for the next stages of the scheme including undertaking some localised site surveys between March 2025 to March 2026. The surveys are to monitor wildlife in areas that will be impacted by the scheme. They will generally take place between 9:00am and 5:00pm, with some at dusk or dawn. Monitoring equipment may be temporarily installed, and some surveys will require multiple visits.

We’ve also been listening to your feedback and are working on solutions to help minimise disruption and environmental impact during construction.

Please note:

The Transport Secretary has commissioned a review of the Department for Transports’ spending portfolio, including current and future road schemes. While the review is ongoing, we remain committed to the scheme and are currently updating costs estimates and developing our procurement and communication strategy.

Contact us

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us via email: a38derbyjunctions@nationalhighways.co.uk
28 February 2024
Legal challenge to Development Consent Order (DCO)

After a redetermination period, we were granted our DCO again on 17 August 2023. We then entered a 6-week challenge period.

A legal challenge was submitted to the Government.

The challenge focused on two main areas:
- the economic assessment submitted and alleged failures in the application process
- how cumulative carbon assessments were carried out
An oral hearing to the challenge was granted and took place on Wednesday 20 December 2023.

Carbon

Two elements of the claimant’s carbon challenges were dismissed. A third part was put on hold as it was subject to another case with the Court of Appeal.

On 22 February 2024, we were informed that this Court determined the cumulative carbon impact had been properly assessed. This resulted in the dismissal of the third part of the claim.

We welcome the Court's decisions.

Economic assessment

The challenge regarding the economic assessment was granted permission for review by the High Court.

The next hearing on economic assessment is expected on Tuesday 14 May 2024. We should learn the outcome of this hearing 6 to 8 weeks afterwards.

Effect on the scheme

Due to the outstanding legal challenge, we’ve been unable to:
- start the process of appointing a new contractor for this scheme
- fully remobilise the project team
We understand this may be disappointing for you to hear as it will inevitably mean more delay for our project programme.

We're still committed to delivering these essential upgrades. We’ll continue to update you as we learn more.
17 August 2023

Development Consent Order update

On 17 August 2023 the Secretary of State for Transport redetermined and approved the A38 Derby Junctions Development Consent Order. This means we now have planning permission to upgrade the Kingsway, Markeaton and Little Eaton roundabouts.

While we still need to get final approval to start construction, we’ll begin to remobilise and reprogramme the project over the next 12 months. We’ll therefore update customers and stakeholders on when we’ll start construction as soon as possible.

You can find out more on the Planning Inspectorate's website under 'Documents'.

See more updates

Project information

To make journeys smoother for motorists, we have identified the following 3 existing roundabout junctions which require upgrades to the west and north of Derby city centre:

A38/A5111 Kingsway roundabout
A38/A52 Markeaton roundabout
A38/A61 Little Eaton roundabout

After delivering improvement schemes at Little Eaton and Markeaton roundabouts in 2014/2015 to reduce congestion in the short term, we have been developing longer term plans to resolve the traffic problems more permanently.

The Government’s strategic vision for the road network is to make journeys better in the Midlands by operating, maintaining and improving major A roads and motorways, through a programme of investment to ensure that the region’s roads are fit for now and the future. The specific objectives of the A38 Derby Junctions scheme are to:

reduce congestion and improve the reliability of journey times between Birmingham, Derby and the M1
help facilitate regional development and growth in Derby City and its surrounding
improve safety for all road users, and for those people living near the junctions
connect people by maintaining existing facilities (eg crossings and ramps etc) or providing new means for cyclists, pedestrians and disabled users to cross the road

A38 Derby Junctions - Statutory Consultation - 7 September 2018 - 18 October 2018

A38 Derby Junction Improvements - non-statutory consultation - 2 January 2015 to 13 March 2015