Transport Action Network (TAN) welcomes the news that the Department for Transport (DfT) has finally confirmed the cancellation of 16 uncommitted and unaffordable local authority road schemes.
The government had previously said the 16 road schemes were “under consideration” in July 20251. TAN has discovered the DfT and roads minister Justin Madders are quietly letting local politicians and councils know about the cancellations. Many of the local road schemes are controversial and opposed by local people who TAN has been supporting, including:
- Chesterfield Staveley Regeneration Route (£197 million)2
- A350 Melksham Bypass (£303 million)3
- M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme (£930 million)4
- Kendal Northern Access Route (£185.3 million)5
TAN has written to the DfT twice in April this year about the status of these local road schemes which have blighted local communities for many years6 7.
Abby Coften, TAN’s CEO, said:
“We are very glad the government has finally cancelled these outdated and unaffordable road schemes. Local councils need clarity, not false hope, about what can be afforded. This transparency and honesty is to be applauded. We hope these local councils will now look at cheaper and more sustainable ways of improving transport in local communities, such as investing in more and cheaper buses, and safe and attractive walking and cycling routes.”
Lisa Hopkinson from the EMCCA Climate Coalition said:
“The costly and damaging Chesterfield Staveley Regeneration Route (CSRR) was never the best solution to many of the issues it was designed to address, and was also likely to make things worse or shift problems to other areas. It would have caused long term disruption and unmitigated impacts on Chesterfield Canal, created additional congestion on other road junctions, and would have failed to reduce traffic from the A619 except in the very near term. The Mayor should consider more sustainable alternatives for access such as reopening the Barrow Hill rail line for passengers to Barrow Hill and Chesterfield.”
ENDS
Notes for editors
- Green light for over 50 road and rail upgrades supporting over 39,000 new homes and 42,000 jobs, DfT press release, 8 July 2025 ↩︎
- ‘Disappointment’ as Chesterfield-Staveley Bypass scrapped from Department for Transport roads programme, Derbyshire Times, 9 October 2016 ↩︎
- £300m Wiltshire bypass dealt major blow as funding withdrawn, Wiltshire Herald, 9 October 2026 ↩︎
- Disappointment as government drops M5 Junction 9 and A46 transport scheme, Gloucestershire County Council press release, 9 October 2026 ↩︎
- Council reacts to Kendal Northern Access Route decision, Westmoreland Gazette, 12 October 2026 ↩︎
- Letter to DfT about the the status of MRN / LLM local road projects (7 April 2026) ↩︎
- Letter to DfT re funding arrangements for MRN / LLM local road projects (30 April 2026) ↩︎
The full list of road schemes cancelled are:
● A4174 MOD Roundabout Improvements
● A454 between Wolverhampton and East Park Gateway
● A509 Isham Bypass
● Blyth Relief Road
● Ely to Cambridge A10 Improvement
● Sheffield Innovation Corridor Road
● A31 Farnham Corridor
● A1079 Improvement Scheme, Wilberfoss
● A1139 University Access
● A1237 YORR dualling Phase 2 – Wetherby Rd to A19
● A127 Corridor for Growth – Route Improvements
● A17 Pullover Junction
● City Centre Road, Portsmouth
● M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme
● West Quay Road Realignment, Southampton
● Warrington Western Link Road
● A500 Crewe Dualling scheme
● Kendal Northern Access Route
● A350 Melksham Bypass
● Chesterfield Staveley Regeneration Route
● Aylesbury Eastern Link
● Shipley Eastern Congestion Relief Road
● A13/ A126 East Facing Slip Roads (Thurrock)
● Rocket Junction (Liverpool)
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