Plans for A303 road tunnel near Stonehenge have been approved
Plans to construct a road tunnel near Stonehenge have been approved, the Department for Transport said.
Today (Friday, July 14) Transport Secretary Mark Harper has granted a Development Consent Order (DCO) to construct a road tunnel near Stonehenge on the A303 in Wiltshire.
A DCO previously issued for the project was quashed by the High Court in July 2021 amid concern about the environmental impact on the Unesco World Heritage Site.
Former Transport Secretary Grant Shapps gave the go-ahead to the £1.7 billion scheme to overhaul eight miles of the A303, including the two-mile tunnel, in November 2020.
This was despite advice from Planning Inspectorate officials that it would cause "permanent, irreversible harm" to the Unesco World Heritage Site in Wiltshire.
National Highways create video to show how Stonehenge will look after the tunnel has been built.
It's hoped the upgrade will tackle congestion on the single carriageway section of the arterial A303 route.
National Highways Chief Executive Nick Harris said: “The A303 Stonehenge scheme is part of the biggest investment in our road network for a generation, and I’m really pleased the project has been given the green light by the Secretary of State for Transport – a decision which will enable us to progress this transformational scheme and deliver the planned benefits.
“The decision follows a lot of work on a comprehensive year-long process to reassess our Development Consent Order, looking in detail at possible alternatives, also including cumulative carbon and heritage issues.
“It means we’re now a step closer to solving the longstanding issues of congestion and delays on the existing A303, improving journeys for all our customers and bringing much-need relief to local communities.
“The investment, along with other improvements along the A303, will help to boost the South West economy, improve journey reliability, remove the sight and sound of traffic from this very busy road and return one of our most important World Heritage Sites to something like its original setting.”
The A303 Stonehenge upgrade includes:
eight miles of free-flowing, high-quality dual carriageway between Amesbury and Berwick Down
a tunnel at least two miles long underneath the World Heritage Site, closely following the existing A303 route, but a further 50 metres away from the Stonehenge monument, avoiding important archaeological sites, and avoiding intrusion on the view of the setting sun from the stones during the winter solstice
a new bypass to the north of the village of Winterbourne Stoke
junctions with the A345 and A360 either side of the World Heritage Site
The construction phase is scheduled to take five years to complete and ahead of the main work, Wessex Archaeology will carry out archaeological mitigation work.
Octavius (formerly Osborne Ltd) will undertake preliminary work, including the reconfiguration of local authority roads.
Archaeological fieldwork and preliminary work will start first, with the main five-year construction phase to follow that programme.
Cllr Caroline Thomas, Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, has also welcomed the decision and said: “We’re delighted that consent has been granted once again for the A303 Stonehenge project and it can now move forward.
“This huge infrastructure project represents a significant investment in Wiltshire that will boost the economy of both our county and the wider region, unlocking jobs and investment.
“Along with the construction, there will also be comprehensive programme of archaeological mitigation, which will enhance our understanding of the World Heritage Site.
There is now a six-week period in which parties can lodge an intention to legally challenge the decision, and in the meantime, National Highways will be renewing its plans to prepare for the scheme.
Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...