M25 junction 10

Latest updates

• 12 May 2022

  Development Consent Order given the green light

  Today we welcomed the Secretary of State for Transport decision to grant us a Development Consent Order, which allows us to proceed with our project to improve the M25 junction 10/A3 Wisley interchange.

  This junction is one of the busiest on our network, with almost 300,000 journeys every day. Due to the volume of traffic and the resulting queues, the junction and the surrounding roads have a high number of incidents. Our proposals will deliver much needed additional capacity, better connectivity for people and businesses, and safer journeys for everyone.

  This vital work will generate more than 400 jobs, including around 20 apprenticeships and graduate jobs, and deliver an environmental legacy that will restore rare heathland in Ockham and Wisley Commons for years to come.

  You can view the decision documents the Planning Inspectorate website.

  Keeping you informed

  We plan to start work in autumn 2022. To make sure you know what’s coming and to keep everyone up to date we will:

  • issue regular project newsletters – you can join the mailing list by signing up on this page
  • run online briefings in June to provide the opportunity to ask the team any questions, as well as providing information about our online portal
  • organise face-to-face events using our engagement van at local venues. These will provide information about the scheme and allow us to answer any questions you and others may have. We will provide you with more details of these on this page soon.

• 03 May 2022

  May update

  We’re due to be hearing from the Secretary of State for Transport by 12 May, on whether we can continue with our proposals to improve M25 junction 10. Here is an overview from Jonathan, our Project Manager, about the Development Consent Order (DCO) decision process and what to expect following a decision. 

  Why is the Development Consent Order process in place for this scheme?

  The M25 junction 10 project was considered by the Government to be so big and nationally important that it met the criteria of being a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), as defined in the Planning Act 2008.  This means that permission to build it would need to be given at a national level through the Development Consent Order process.  You can find out more about this process by watching this short animation.

  What are the different decision scenarios that the Secretary of State for Transport could announce?

  There are a number of possible scenarios. The DCO could be granted, and one of our first steps would be to read the Examining Authority’s report in full to understand any recommendations that have been included. The DCO decision could also be deferred again, or it could be rejected entirely.

  What can’t happen is that we are granted a DCO covering only parts of the works. The package of work is a complete entity, referred to in the DCO as the “authorised development”. If the DCO is granted, we expect that there will be a period of approximately three weeks between it being announced and the powers within it coming into force.

  If the decision is approved where I will be able to find out more information?

  You will be able to find out more information here on our dedicated webpage, where you can also sign up for our updates and newsletters.  We we’ll also be running a series of public information events where you will be able to come meet the team and ask questions.  More details will be shared about these events should our proposals receive a positive decision.  

  Why does M25 Junction 10/A3 Wisley need improving?

  Junction 10 is one of the busiest sections of the M25, with almost 300,000 vehicles travelling through it every day. Due to the volume of traffic and the resulting queues, this area of our network has a very poor safety record and holds one of the highest collision rates across the National Highways network.  Our proposals will reduce delays, improve connections, smooth traffic flow and create safer journeys for all.  The scheme will also involve some of the most extensive environmental mitigation ever carried out by National Highways. 

  

  Supporting the local community

  While we wait for a decision we have been continuing to engage with stakeholders, supporting our local community, and looking at opportunities to help prepare us to start works, should we get approval.  

  Last month our project team recently volunteered alongside the team at RHS Wisley Gardens. Our team spent the day working in the Bowes Lyon Rose Garden, helping to get the area ready for summer.  This involved laying down a mulch which will help the soil retain moisture in the summer and prevent weeds from growing. We would like to say a big thank you to the RHS for welcoming us into their gardens. The Royal Horticultural Society are a charity who aim to inspire a passion for gardening and growing plants, along with promoting the value of gardens and the vital role for people and the planet that plants play.

  

  We have been busy collecting essential items to support the North Guildford foodbank, along with volunteering at the food bank itself sorting food parcels.  We also took the opportunity to get involved in the recent Great British Spring Clean initiative by completing a litter pick around our scheme.  The campaign by Keep Britain Tidy, looks to encourage everyone to take part in litter picking events, and think about the risk that litter causes to local wildlife, and to the workers out collecting it.  In 2021, 30,000 bags of litter were collected from the M25 network area, so its important issue for us and we can all help keep our roads safe and tidy. 

• 28 February 2022

  February update

  In December, the Secretary of State for Transport wrote to us on our proposals to improve the M25 junction 10/A3 Wisley interchange. In his consultation letter, the Secretary of State asked for further information about our replacement land proposals, and our environmental data.  You can read our full response here. We look forward to hearing from the Secretary of State for Transport in May on whether we can continue with our proposals.   To make sure we’re in the best position to get going with delivering our scheme, should we get the go-ahead, we have been using the last few months to update our environmental surveys, engage with our stakeholders and volunteer in the local community. 

  We have been repeating our bat and badger surveys in the local area to make sure our information is up to date.  For the bat surveys our ecologists have been looking at local trees to see if they have signs, or the potential, to support hibernation or maternity roosts – for several weeks in the summer female bats gather in a roost to have their babies, and we need to ensure our work does not disturb either of these roosts. The badger surveys involved walking around areas where badger setts have previously been identified to look for any signs of new setts. 

  Our programme of work takes into account the seasonal activity of all protected species and includes extensive ecological mitigation measures.  These measures include restoring rare heathland habitat, enhancing existing woodlands, creating new woodlands and parkland. These improvements will benefit a host of species including invertebrates, birds, reptiles, small mammals (including bats) and larger mammals such as badgers, and even us humans who will be able to access much of this new and diverse habitat.

  

  You can read more about the environmental surveys and how we have been visiting other major National Highways schemes in our latest newsletter. 

  Volunteering day at RHS Wisley Gardens

  Our project team recently volunteered alongside the team at RHS Wisley Gardens. Our team spent the day working in the Bowes Lyon Rose Garden, helping to get the area ready for summer.  This involved laying down a mulch which will help the soil retain moisture in the summer and prevent weeds from growing. 

  We would like to say a big thank you to the RHS for welcoming us into their gardens. The Royal Horticultural Society are a charity who aim to inspire a passion for gardening and growing plants, along with promoting the value of gardens and the vital role for people and the planet  that plants play.

• 17 December 2021

  December update

  We are continuing to engage with stakeholders and our local community, along with giving support to other schemes that have recently started works, while we wait for a decision on whether we can continue with our proposals to improve the M25 junction 10/A3 Wisley interchange.   

  Our project team have recently volunteered with a local foodbank and spent time with students from East Surrey College.  The students are all interested in careers in construction and engineering and we talked to them about the jobs that we do, our careers and future employment opportunities.  The College offers full-time and part-time courses as well as apprenticeships, university level and new level 3 T level qualifications for the construction and engineering sector. Level 3 business student, Elizabeth, said “It was cool to hear about how the digital sector use drones across the country to capture aerial images and videos of the work happening on site.”

  We also recently asked for your feedback on our newsletters and what else you would like to hear about.  You can read more about the feedback that was shared with us, our visit to the College and some tips for travelling safely in winter in our latest newsletter.  Sign up to our mailing list and you can receive our newsletters straight to your inbox.

  If approved our proposals will improve connections, smooth traffic flows and create safer journeys for all.  The deadline for our scheme decision is 12 May 2022 and we will keep this webpage updated with any latest updates.

• 21 October 2021

  Decision deadline extended to May 2022

  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked for more time to make a final decision on whether we can continue with our proposals to improve the M25 junction 10/A3 Wisley interchange.  

  In his statement, the Secretary of State sets out he is extending the deadline to 12 May 2022 to allow for further consideration of environmental matters.

  We’re committed to delivering the improvements at M25 junction 10 and remain confident that our proposals will deliver much needed additional capacity, with better connectivity for people and business, and safer journeys for everyone. This junction is one of the busiest on our network, with almost 300,000 journeys every day.

  Thank you to everyone for their engagement and contribution in the development of the scheme to date. We will continue to work with the Planning Inspectorate, local stakeholders and local authorities until the Secretary of State makes his decision.

  Further information regarding the extension and any additional consultations will be posted on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

• 26 July 2021

  Project update – July 2021

  In May, the Secretary of State for Transport has asked for more time to make a final decision on whether we can continue with our proposals to improve the M25 junction 10/A3 Wisley interchange.  In his statement, the Secretary of State set out the 6-month extension and provided the new deadline of 12 November 2021. Details of the additional information requested by the Secretary of State can be viewed the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

  We remain confident that our proposals will deliver much needed additional capacity, with better connectivity for people and business, and safer journeys for everyone. You can now visit our virtual information portal that outlines our proposals and the safety and environmental benefits they would bring. Just click on the ‘view the portal’ option at the top of this page. We would be interested to hear your feedback on the portal, and you can share your thoughts with us using the get in touch section on the portal or by email on M25j10@highwaysengland.co.uk.

  Since the announcement, we’ve spent the time understanding what this extension means for our plans. As part of this we’ve looked at what we can do to get ready if our proposals were to be approved. One of these is to apply for planning permission for our main site compound. The permission will allow us to build our offices during warmer months and to ensure we are ready to deliver the wider scheme programme. The application will be reviewed by Guildford Borough Council and we expect to hear back over the next couple of months.

• 12 May 2021

  Decision deadline extended to November 2021

  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked for more time to make a final decision on whether we can continue with our proposals to improve the M25 junction 10/A3 Wisley interchange.  

  In his statement, the Secretary of State sets out the 6-month extension is to allow for further consideration of environmental matters, and provides the new deadline of 12 November 2021.

  Thank you to everyone for their engagement and contribution in the development of the scheme to date. Further information regarding the extension and any additional consultations will be posted on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

  We remain confident that our proposals will deliver much needed additional capacity, with better connectivity for people and business, and safer journeys for everyone. This junction is one of the busiest on our network, with almost 300,000 journeys every day. Due to the volume of traffic and the resulting queues, the junction and the surrounding roads have a high number of incidents.

• 04 May 2021

  Decision update

  In January 2021, the Secretary of State for Transport delayed his final decision on our proposals to improve the M25 junction 10/A3 Wisley interchange to 12 May 2021.

  This four-month extension is to allow the Secretary of State to understand more detail in certain areas of our application. You can view the written statement about the extension on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

  Thank you to everyone who has got involved in the development of the scheme so far. More information about the scheme, along with the decision when it is announced, can be viewed on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

• 13 January 2021

  Decision date extended

  The Secretary of State has extended the deadline for the decision on the Development Consent Order for improvements to the M25 junction 10/A3 Wisley interchange to 12 May 2021.

  The 4-month extension is to allow the Secretary of State to consult further on specific areas of the application. View the written statement about the extension.

  We look forward to the Secretary of State’s Development Consent Order decision later in the year and will continue to assist with the process over the forthcoming months. Thank you to everyone for their engagement and contribution in the development of the scheme to date. Further information regarding the additional consultation will be posted on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

  Our plans to improve the M25 at junction 10 near Wisley are good for road safety, good for the environment and good for business and jobs. The new junction will improve almost 300,000 journeys a day, making them more reliable and safer, with nearly a third fewer collisions.

• 12 August 2020

  Scheme prepares for Secretary of State decision

  The Development Consent Order (DCO) examination was completed in mid-July, having been extended by two months as a result of the impact of COVID-19. The planning inspectorate are now writing their report which is due to be submitted to the Secretary of State for Transport during October, for his consideration. The Secretary of State decision is expected on 12 January 2021 with start of works planned in spring next year.

  Earlier in the year we awarded a contract to Balfour Beatty Atkins to build the scheme and we are now working on the detailed design and doing more surveys to inform this.  This includes environmental surveying on land surrounding the M25 and A3, as well as surveys on the road which will be done at night when it is less busy. That means there will be night time closures of some lanes in September and October for these surveys.

  Until we receive the Secretary of State’s decision we will be carrying on with the detailed design and planning how to build the scheme. You will be able to find out what the final design looks like and how we will build it at events at the start of next year.

• 19 March 2020

  Formal examination

  Our proposals for the M25 junction 10/A3 Wisley interchange were accepted by the Planning Inspectorate on 17 July 2019 for formal examination. This is a significant milestone for our scheme, as it means we’ve taken a big step towards delivering much-needed improvements on this stretch of road. You can view our planning application on the Planning Inspectorate website.

  The Planning Inspectorate is half way through its examination of our scheme and this has involved multiple written questions and representations, and a series of public hearings, with the next ones due to take place 24, 25 and 26 March.

  These hearings have now been postponed until further notice due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Please check the Planning Inspectorate project page for the latest information on the DCO examination.