A47 Thickthorn junction near Norwich

Latest updates

• 31 May 2024

  The Supreme Court decision – permission to appeal refused

  On Wednesday 29 May, The Supreme Court ruled that an appeal against the A47 schemes should not go ahead. We will provide an update about the schemes in due course.

  We would also encourage you to sign up for updates to keep directly informed of scheme developments.

• 23 February 2024

  A47 schemes judicial review Court of Appeal outcome – Dismissed

  On 22 February, we received the outcome of the appeal against the Judicial Review Process for the three improvement schemes on the A47. 

  Three judges found that the Development Consent Orders (DCOs), previously granted by the Secretary of State for Transport, were properly assessed by the government for the cumulative effects of carbon, and will stand.  

  This means we can now begin work on developing our plans for the construction phase of the project and when we will be able to start work on the three schemes along the A47, improving customer journeys, enhancing safety and supporting economic growth in the region.   

  We will provide further updates on the progress of our plans and start of works in due course. 

• 09 November 2023

  Update on the legal challenge

  A legal case heard in July 2023 had challenged the decisions from the Secretary of State for Transport to grant development consent orders (DCOs) for this and two other A47 improvement schemes near Norwich. The High Court judge, Mrs Justice Thornton, dismissed the claimant’s argument.

  However, on 18 October 2023, the Court of Appeal granted the claimant a right to have his appeal heard.

  We have been advised that the one-day hearing will be held on 16 January 2024. 

  Allowing the appeal to be heard is disappointing, causing further delay to these schemes. This is a difficult turn of events for those of us who recognise and support the safety case to upgrade key stretches of this very busy road.

  As we have done throughout this process, National Highways will continue to respect the decision of the court.

  In the meantime, we are taking time to fully consider our next steps. This includes what work can continue at our sites to ensure the areas remain safe and with as little disruption and disturbance to those living nearby as possible.

  The A47 Thickthorn junction scheme was already in a retendering process to ensure we deliver best value for our customers and stakeholders. This is going well, and we do not envisage any significant impacts or changes. The project team is currently conducting minor work, including environmental monitoring activity. Work is not expected to commence in earnest until the legal process is completed and the new supplier is on board.

  We remain committed to delivering these plans, and confident that they will provide significant improvements to both safety and congestion on the A47, as well as helping to boost the regional economy.

• 03 August 2023

  Update on the A47 Norwich schemes

  We have received notification that an appeal on the court’s decision to reject the claims in the judicial review of our three Norwich schemes has been submitted.

  What does this mean?

  The Court of Appeal must now decide whether to grant the claimant permission to appeal. National Highways will be taking all necessary steps to challenge the application. 

  Next steps

  To avoid any further delays, we can continue to carry out early works, such as archaeology, compound set up and utility diversions, on the schemes while we await the court’s decision.

  We stand by our plan to deliver these important schemes and remain confident they can deliver significant improvements to both safety and congestion on the A47, as well as providing a significant boost to the regional economy.

• 07 July 2023

  A47 Norwich schemes – outcome of judicial review

  We have been informed by the High Court that the claims in the judicial review held on 10-11 May 2023 have been rejected, and found in favour of the Secretary of State for Transport.
  
  The judicial review challenged the decisions made by the Secretary of State for Transport in granting development consent orders (DCO) to three A47 road improvement schemes near Norwich.

  The news means that the DCO decisions for these schemes still stand. Among the main grounds for the legal challenges was how cumulative carbon is assessed by the government at a national level. This has been fundamentally rejected by the High Court on all grounds.

  We welcome the outcome, which means we can continue our work to deliver these much-needed schemes:

  • New dual carriageway and junctions between A47 Blofield and North Burlingham
  • New dual carriageway and junctions between A47 North Tuddenham and Easton 
  • Redevelopment of Thickthorn junction (where A11 meets the A47 south of Norwich)

  Next steps

  Work on these schemes has previously been limited while we were awaiting the outcome of the judicial review. Now that we have this clarity, we are working with our contractor to establish new construction timescales. We intend to start work on the three affected schemes as soon as possible.

  Face-to-face public information events 

  Over the next few months, we’ll hold another round of face-to-face public information events. Come along to meet the team and hear about our construction plans at the following locations: 

  • Wednesday 26 July, 10am to 4pm at Norwich Camping and Leisure, 58 Yarmouth Road, Blofield, Norwich, NR13 4LQ 
  • Thursday 27 July, 10am to 4pm at Acle Coop, Norwich Road, Acle, Norwich, NR13 3BY 
  • Friday 28 July, 8am to 6pm at Castle Quarter Shopping Centre, (near Starbucks) 100 Castle Mall, Norwich NR1 3DD
  • Monday 4 September, 10am to 5pm at Tesco, Kingston Road, Dereham NR19, 1WB
  • Monday 11 September, 9am to 4pm at Tesco, Ipswich Road, Norwich, NR4 6DZ 

• 21 December 2022

  Update on the A47 legal challenges

  A legal challenge has been made to the Secretary of State (SoS) for Transport's decision to grant Development Consent Order (DCO) for our three A47 schemes:

  • A47 Blofield to North Burlingham
  • A47 North Tuddenham to Easton
  • A47/A11 Thickthorn junction

  The challenge mainly focuses on the way cumulative carbon assessments were carried out, along with local carbon plans, bat licences and the completeness of the briefings given to the Ministers prior to the decisions.

  On 14 December the High Court held an oral hearing for the claimant to put their arguments to a judge as to why the challenges should proceed to a judicial review. At this hearing the judge granted permission for a substantive hearing, mainly on the grounds of how cumulative carbon is assessed by government at a national level, so the case will now progress to a full judicial review.

  A judicial review is the process of challenging the lawfulness of decisions made by public authorities, including central government, so this will now decide whether the SoS acted lawfully. The challenge to the A47 schemes is not on the schemes themselves, but to the process of approving the DCOs.

  Delay to our schemes

  This means we cannot start work as soon as we had originally planned on the three A47 schemes and have had to delay the improvements our customers have asked us for.

  Our continued commitment

  We stand by our plans and remain committed to investing almost half a billion pounds on a series of improvements to the A47 the people and businesses of East Anglia have told us they want. These will make the road safer, connect local communities and deliver a huge economic boost to the region.

  Over the last three months we have held a series of public information events, attended by over 800 people, and the feedback from our stakeholders was positive towards our A47 schemes.

  We will now work with the Department for Transport, ahead of the case being heard in full.

  More information

  • Drive to reducing carbon emissions Net Zero Highways.
  • Commitment to no net loss of biodiversity across all projects by 2025 Biodiversity Plan.

  To make sure you know what’s coming up, sign up to our regular project updates by using the link on the right-hand side of this page.

• 14 October 2022

  Development Consent Order given the green light

  Today we welcomed the Secretary of State for Transport’s decision to grant us a planning application called a Development Consent Order (DCO), which allows us to proceed with our plans to improve the A47/A11 Thickthorn junction.  You can view the decision letter here. 

  The scheme will: 

  • provide two new free-flowing connections with the A47 and A11 and re-route traffic away from the existing junction
  • change the existing roundabout at the junction, providing an additional lane for traffic, improved traffic signals and pedestrian crossings
  • construct a new road between Cantley Lane South and B1172 Norwich Road to allow continued access to the junction
  • provide a new footbridge crossing the A47 between Cantley Lane South and Cantley Lane to accommodate walkers, cyclists, horse riders and other vulnerable users 

  The improvements will:  

  • reduce congestion, make journey times more reliable, and increase capacity 
  • improve road safety for motorists and for those living near the junction
  • help the road cope better if there are vehicle collisions or breakdowns, and during road maintenance 
  • support regional housing and economic growth in Norwich and the surrounding areas 
  • protect the environment by minimising adverse impacts and, where possible, deliver benefits 
  • improve access roads for local communities  
  • provide a safer route for walkers, cyclist, horse riders and vulnerable users   

  The existing A47 has one of the highest recorded accident rates for an A road in the UK. Traffic modelling data from 2019 shows this section of the A47 is used by over 60,000 vehicles a day.   

  The scheme will improve road safety by reducing the number of accidents and consequently the number of casualties: over a 60-year timeframe, the scheme’s improvements could save up to 242 accidents and 26 killed or seriously injured (KSIs).    

  For more information on our DCO and to view our documents, visit the Planning Inspectorate website.  

  Keeping you informed

  You can find out more about our plans and speak to our construction and project team at the following public drop-in events:

  Friday 11 November 2022, midday to 8pm
  Heathersett Village Hall, Back Lane, Hethersett, Norwich, NR9 3JJ

  Tuesday 15 November 2022, 8am to 4pm
  Co-op Acle, Norwich Rd, Acle, Norwich NR13 3BY

  Friday 18 November 2022, 9am to 4pm
  The Willow Centre, Willow Croft Way, Cringleford NR4 7JJ

  Friday 25 November 2022, 10am to 6pm
  East Tuddenham Hall, Dereham, Norfolk, NR20 3LR

  Wednesday 30 November 2022, 8am to 4pm
  Waitrose Wymondham Norwich Rd, Wymondham NR18 0SH

  Thursday 1 December 2022, 9am to 6pm POSTPONED due to venue double-booking*
  Chantry Place, St Stephens St, Norwich NR1 3SH

  Friday 2 December 2022, 8am to 5pm
  Hay Hill Haymarket, Market Place, Norwich NR2 1ND

  Friday 9 December 2022, 8am to 5pm
  Castle Quarter Shopping Centre, Castle Meadow, Norwich NR1 3DD

  Monday 16 January 2023, 9am to 6pm (*new date for previously postponed event)
  Chantry Place, St Stephens St, Norwich NR1 3SH

• 20 September 2022

  Development Consent Order decision postponed

  The Development Consent Order for our A47/A11 Thickthorn junction scheme has been postponed by the Secretary of State due to the National Mourning Period. You can view the statement here on the Planning Inspectorate website.

  We remain confident our proposals to improve the junction, by providing two new free-flowing connections with the A47 and the A11, will improve road safety for motorists and those living near the junction.  

  In addition, it will reduce congestion, make journeys times more reliable and increase capacity, as well as improve access roads for local communities, provide safer routes for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and other vulnerable users, and support regional housing and economic growth in Norwich and the surrounding areas. 

  You can sign up to our regular scheme updates here, by using the link on the right-hand side of this page.  

• 04 November 2021

  Archaeological work starts this month

  We're carrying out some survey work in the area from Monday 8 November to Friday 12 November. This is to understand the archaeology of the area where we are proposing to upgrade the road. This work will help us start to plan the work ahead of the next stage in the project. It is not the start of construction.

  The work we will be doing includes digging 25 trial trenches, each up to 40 metres long, and 15 smaller, hand-dug pits so we can find archaeological remains or see if there are any heritage sites of interest and ensure they will not be disturbed by the proposed scheme when main work starts. You will see operatives at work to prepare these trenches, including operating diggers and heavy plant machinery, but this work is strictly to understand the archaeology of the area and ensure the proposed scheme cannot damage it.

  Some of the surveys will take place on the road, so to ensure our workforce is safe during this time, we will need to make some lane and road closures. We apologise for any inconvenience these may cause.

• 14 May 2021

  Development Consent Order application accepted

  We are pleased to announce that our Development Consent Order Application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in March 2021 and was accepted in April 2021, allowing us to progress through to examination. The next steps in the process can be found on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

  Members of the public are able to register to participate in the examination, and provide a response to our application during the Relevant Representation period, which closes on Wednesday 7 July 2021 at 23:59.

  Details of how to respond can be found on the A11/A47 Thickthorn project web page on the Planning Inspectorate website.

  Ground investigations and surveys

  We’ll be carrying out some important surveys and ground investigations work in the area from March to October 2021. These will give us a clearer picture of the condition of the existing road, as well as types of soils, rock types and the ground water levels where we are proposing to upgrade the road.

  This work will help us start to plan the work safely and economically, ahead of the next stage in the project. However, this is not the start of construction.

  You can expect to see survey vehicles and equipment in operation close to the Thickthorn junction, although some of the surveys will take place on private property such as farms and surrounding land.

  Types of surveys we’ll be carrying out:

  • Topographical surveys which are aerial surveys to understand the existing levels of the area
  • Utility trial holes to identify the precise location of existing services and utilities
  • Ground investigations to understand the existing environment and subsoil elements in order to ensure the chosen design is a workable solution
  • Road surveys which are a series of tests on the existing road to determine condition, depth and materials
  • Asset condition surveys to understand the condition of existing highways assets, for example bridges

  Where survey work is due to take place next to residential properties, we will write to those residents in advance and let them know what is happening and when. We have advised landowners where we need access to their land. Some of the surveys will take place on the road, so we will need to make some lane and road closures to ensure our workforce is safe during the work.

• 10 January 2021

  Planning Inspectorate examination process

  The A47/A11 Thickthorn junction scheme’s Development Consent Order (DCO) examination started on 23 September 2021 and will finish on 23 March 2022. The examination process is explained on the Planning Inspectorate's website.

  The dates for examination can be viewed on the Planning Inspectorate’s Examination Timetable page.

  For more information on our DCO application and to sign up for email updates about our project, please visit the A47/A11Thickthorn junction Inspectorate’s web page.