Major highways projects

Description of the scheme

High Speed Two (HS2) is a high speed railway which will connect major cities in Britain. A dedicated high speed rail service between London and the West Midlands is expected to open between 2029 and 2033.

The A361 is the approved route for construction traffic to access one of the main construction sites in Northamptonshire. It is located just to the north of Chipping Warden on the former airfield.

Stage one of the Relief Road extends from the A361 just north of Hogg End to a point north of Long Barrow. It was opened to traffic in June 2021, ahead of the main construction compound being fully operational.

Stage two will see the connection to the A361 altered to suit the permanent road layout. This will commence once HS2 Ltd have built the cut and cover tunnel for the new railway.

The approved plans for the Relief Road can be viewed on the Chipping Warden Parish Council website.

Benefits of the scheme

The Relief Road removes the need for traffic to travel via the village centre. This will reduce the number of vehicles in the centre of Chipping Warden, improve air quality, noise levels and road safety.

The Relief Road is a permanent feature so the village will continue to benefit once High Speed Two is completed.

Scheme cost and how it will be funded

High Speed Two Limited contractors designed and built the Relief Road. We made a £2 million contribution towards the cost of the scheme.

Public consultation

We undertook public consultation on possible routes in summer 2014. Strong support for a relief road to the west of Chipping Warden was received. High Speed Two Limited undertook public consultation as part of Additional Provision 2 in July 2015.

Further information

Further information on the High Speed Two project through Northamptonshire is available on the HS2 website.

The A422 through the village of Farthinghoe currently suffers from sub-standard geometry, a narrow carriageway and footways. The bypass is set to remove through traffic from the centre of the village.

The main objectives are to:

• enhance local environment and improve air quality of traffic travelling within the village
• reduce volume of traffic through the village - particularly HGVs
• improve road safety
• provide a high quality alternative route that will allow for free flowing traffic along the A422

Since January 2020 work has been underway to carry out preliminary design work and production of a technical report. A number of different routes have been considered due to concerns raised in the previous consultation. These are regarding the potential impact on the businesses, medieval ponds and special landscape area.

Funding

The current work to identify a preferred route is being funded by West Northamptonshire Council. Government funding will need to be sought to fund the cost of building the road. The current estimated cost to construct the bypass is £28.5 to £33.75 million.

Route design

The 4 proposed northern routes have been designed as a single carriageway with a design speed of 100kph
(60mph). Road lighting will be provided only at and on approach to junctions.

Junctions

We are proposing that there should be junctions between the bypass and the existing A422 east and west of the village. This will provide good access for traffic that needs to be in the village. It will also encourage through traffic on to the bypass. A free-flowing route with minimal junctions and limited direct access will improve comfort. This will result in reduced journey times and enhanced journey reliability along the A422.

Alignment

The bypass will be kept as low as practical within the landscape to the north of the village. We are proposing that it should pass under both Cockley Road and the access to Abbey Lodge Farm without a junction.

Walking, cycling and horse riding

There is currently limited provision for walking, cycling and horse riding throughout the village. The existing A422 is served by a narrow footway throughout the village, and there is a signalised crossing facility near the primary school. Therefore, a walking, cycling and horse riding assessment will be carried out during the next stage.

Structures

For each bypass option, two new bridge structures have been identified.

Route options

Farthinghoe has a number of important and significant environmental constraints that each of the proposed options must consider. Those identified and considered in a recent desk top study. Further work will be undertaken on the preferred route when determined. This will establish more precisely the environmental impact of the route and any mitigation measures necessary.

Consultation

Consultation on the preferred route ran from 6 November 2020 to 3 January 2021. The responses were reported to West Northamptonshire Council after the May 2021 elections.

Improvements to the Round Spinney roundabout (phase 1a) were completed in 2015. These resulted in increased capacity at this junction and improved traffic flow.

Phase 2 was a dualling of the section north of the Moulton roundabout to a new junction near Overstone Grange. This was opened to traffic in early 2018.

Phase 1b was fully opened for traffic in June 2020. This provided a new road between the Round Spinney and Moulton roundabouts bypassing the existing road.

Phase 3 is intended to extend the dualling to the Holcot and Sywell roundabout. A bid for Government funding towards this phase was submitted in 2016 but was not successful.

A bid for Major Road Network funding to construct this section was submitted in August 2019. We are now developing a Strategic Outline Business Case to support this submission.

Further phases will be needed to complete the dualling through to the A14 but have not yet been determined.

Public consultation

Consultation and examination hearings for the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy highlighted the view of the local community. Improvements to the A43, among other measures, are necessary to support the proposed development at Northampton North.

Scheme cost and funding

Phase 2 was constructed within its budget of £9.25m. It was comprised of:

• £6.5m of government funding secured through the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) and
• £2.75m of Section 106 funding from the Overstone Leys development

Phase 1b was constructed within its budget of £17.5m. This included:

• £7.9m of government funding through the SEMLEP Local Growth Deal, and
• £4.1m of Section 106 funding

Phase 3 has an estimated cost of £23.7m. A bid for £19.2m of Department for Transport Major Road Network funding is also being progressed.

This section will be updated as the scheme progresses.

The NGMS is a joint project between us and National Highways (formerly Highways England).

We are project managing the scheme and funding on behalf of all the project partners. In total, seven junctions will be improved:

• M1 Junction 15
• A45 Wootton Interchange
• A45 Queen Eleanor Interchange
• A45 Brackmills Interchange
• A45 Barnes Meadow Interchange
• A45 Lumbertubs interchange
• A45 Great Billing interchange

Details of the location of these junctions and scheme designs are available on request by email to [email protected]

Benefits of the scheme

The scheme will increase capacity, reduce congestion and facilitate housing growth along the A45 between M1 Junction 15 and the Great Billing Interchange.

Scheme cost and how it will be funded

Improvements to all seven junctions will cost more than £12m. A total of £5.877m has been secured so far from:

• developer contributions (£1.797m), and
• the Highways England Growth and Housing Fund (£4.08m)

The funding secured so far is designed to deliver improvements at the A45 Queen Eleanor Interchange, A45 Brackmills and Great Billing Interchanges. A review of the scheme is currently underway. A decision on how the scheme is to proceed is expected later in 2021.

The remaining junctions will be improved as funding becomes available.

What happens next

Further details of the programme will be shared with local residents and businesses as they become available.

At peak times the corridor experiences congestion and traffic regularly queues back from Cliftonville Road along Bedford Road as far as the Barnes Meadow Interchange.

The Northampton Central Area Action Plan and the Northampton Town Transport Strategy both outline a strategy to reduce traffic and improve air quality on the inner ring, particularly on roads like Cheyne Walk and York Road.

The proposed scheme will slightly widen Cliftonville Road from Bedford Road to the south entrance of Northampton General Hospital to create three lanes of traffic, two northbound and one southbound. The Cliftonville Road / Billing Road / Alfred Street and St Edmund Street / Wellingborough Road junctions will also be upgraded.

Benefits of the scheme

The scheme will reduce traffic congestion and the volume of traffic on the inner ring road, enhance air quality and make it easier to access Northampton General Hospital.

Public consultation

Public consultation ran from 1 August 2019 to 4 September 2019.

Two public consultation events were held on 7 August 2019 and 15 August 2019, where the consultation boards were available to view and the team answered questions.

To view the consultation boards with details of the scheme and further information please email [email protected]

Phase 1 - Wellingborough Road and St Edmund's Street

In general, there was support for this element of the scheme and the design remains unchanged from what was consulted on.

Work commenced on Monday 4 November 2019 and was completed on Saturday 25 January 2020.

Phase 2 - Bedford Road and Cliftonville

The detailed design of Phase 2 has been completed taking into account comments received through the public consultation and works commenced on Monday 20th September. The scheme is programmed to be completed in 13 weeks although works of this nature can be delayed by external factors such as weather conditions etc.

These important works will bring significant long term benefits to travellers in the town and, in particular, for access to the hospital. However, the works are taking place in a very busy and sensitive location and delays are to be expected. Motorists are advised to find alternative routes wherever possible and Northamptonshire Highways are working closely with key stakeholders such as the General Hospital, St Andrews Hospital, emergency services and the University of Northampton to manage demand.

In order to ensure the safety of the workforce and the public there will be no access to Bedford Road from Cliftonville and a diversion route is in place.

Northamptonshire Highways only close roads when it is absolutely necessary to keep our workforce and road users safe.

The route, which will be clearly signed, is chosen to follow roads of a suitable standard and width to carry all traffic and uses roads of a similar category and capacity to Cliftonville Road.

The diversion route is via Alfred Street / St Edmunds Street, Wellingborough Road, Park Avenue South and Rushmere Road and junctions along the diversion route will be monitored to ensure that traffic demands are managed as effectively as possible.
 
The phase 2 General Arrangement drawing  shows the proposed final road layout upon completion of phase 2 of the Cliftonville Corridor scheme. The key changes are at the Bedford Road / Cliftonville junction as there will be two lanes turning right up Cliftonville from the Bedford Road instead of one right turn lane as the current arrangements. Cliftonville Road itself will be widened to maintain two lanes for vehicles travelling northbound up to the left turn into the hospital entrance road adjacent to the school of podiatry. This will assist traffic accessing the hospital which will effectively benefit from a dedicated lane from the Bedford Road.

For a copy of the phase 2 General Arrangement drawing please email [email protected]

Phase 3 - Billing Road junction

There were a number of concerns raised during public consultation regarding this element of the scheme. Therefore, the works required at the Billing Road junction will be considered in the future, once Phase 1 and Phase 2 have been built.

Scheme cost and how it will be funded

We have been successful in securing £1.814m of government funding from the National Productivity Investment Fund. This will be supported by £0.777m of additional local match funding.

The proposed new road will link the A5199 and Northampton North West Relief Road between Kingsthorpe and Chapel Brampton with the A43 north of Moulton. The new road will also connect with the Moulton Park industrial estate.

Benefits of the scheme

Completing a new ring road will reduce the amount of traffic passing through northern parts of Northampton. This also includes a number of surrounding villages such as Boughton, Moulton and Pitsford. The road will also create a new route for traffic heading to the Moulton Park industrial estate.

The Northampton Northern Orbital Route is also needed to help with the growth proposals to the north and west of Northampton. Some 10,000 new homes are to be built at sites such as Dallington Grange, Buckton Fields, and Northampton North. The road is expected to create capacity for future development beyond that already planned.

Scheme costs and how it will be funded

An estimated cost for the scheme will be developed as work progresses. It is anticipated that the road will be funded by a combination of government and developer funding.

2017 public consultation

The route options were consulted on in 2017 and the consultation closed on 4 August 2017.

For further information about both the North West Relief Road and Northampton Northern Orbital route, email [email protected].

What happens next

Following the decision on a preferred route, work will begin to design the new road and gain the necessary powers and funding.

This page will be updated as the scheme progresses.

Compulsory Purchase Order

The Compulsory Purchase Order has been submitted to the Secretary of State for Transport. The order has authorised us to purchase land and rights required for constructing the relief road.

See Government guidance on the Compulsory Purchase process and compensation.

Description of scheme

The Northampton North-West Relief Road will link the A428 Harlestone Road with the A5199 Welford Road. The section from the A428 to south of the railway line will be constructed by the developers of Dallington Grange. The first part of this section has already been constructed as part of the Harlestone Manor development. We will be responsible for building the section of road across the railway line connecting the developer's road to the A5199 Welford Road.

Benefits of the scheme

The Northampton North-West Relief Road will reduce congestion in the north-west of Northampton. It will be providing a new crossing of the river valley.

The new road will also improve access to the motorway and other strategic roads. These include Moulton Park, Round Spinney and Lodge Farm Industrial Estates.

How the scheme will be funded

The road will be funded by a combination of central government, local government and developer funding.

Government funding of £7.93m has been allocated from the SEMLEP Local Growth Deal.

We have committed up to £4.2m towards the scheme.

Developer contributions of at least £15m have been identified towards the scheme.

Full business case

A detailed business case for the Government funding was developed in accordance with the Department for Transport's guidance on transport business cases. A revised business case was was submitted to SEMLEP in April 2021. SEMLEP have confirmed their continued support for the project.

Information events

The information boards from the public information events are available upon request by emailing [email protected]

Planning

A detailed planning application for the section of the road we will build was submitted to our planning team. Planning consent was granted on 22nd September 2020. All details relevant to planning are available upon request by emailing [email protected].

You can visit the planning applications page relating to the 19/00045/CCDFUL North-West Relief Road.

Next steps

Work has now officially commenced on the relief road. Completion of the works are projected for spring 2024. This page will be updated as the scheme progresses.