The future of the A66 upgrade have been thrown into doubt following spiralling costs, contractors withdrawing from the project and disbanding of the government departments tasked with accelerating infrastructure project delivery as the Department for Transport deemed the A66 project “poor value for money” As midnight deadline set by Secretary of State for Westmorland and Furness Council to respond to questions asked approaches.
Following a length examination by Planning Inspectors for the application by National Highways for an order granting development consent for the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Dueling Project between Penrith and Scotch Corner in a project now projected as costing £1.3billion.
Following the completion of the Examination on 29 May 2023, the Examining Authority submitted to the Secretary of State on 7 August 2023 a Report and Recommendation in respect of its findings and conclusions on the application by National Highways for the A66 upgrade.
The Secretary of State has three months from 7 August 2023 to determine the application.
On the 14th of August it emerged there are outstanding Issues on which the Secretary of State wished for involved parties to provide an update and further clarification.
As a deadline of 23:59 tonight Friday the 25th August 2023 was set by Secretary of State for a specific group to respond including Westmorland and Furness Council.
In a letter issued by the Department for Transport it states “The Secretary of State is aware that at the close of the examination confirmation that side agreements between the Applicant and North Yorkshire Council, Westmorland and Furness Council and Durham County Council had not been received. The Secretary of State requests the Applicant, North Yorkshire Council, Westmorland and Furness Council and Durham County Council provide an update on their negotiations; and if Side Agreements remain outstanding, that the Applicant, North Yorkshire Council, Westmorland and Furness Council, and Durham County Council confirm whether they consider agreement can be reached and, if so, when the agreements might be finalised.”
It has however also emerged that the Department for Transport has deemed “poor value for money” the A66 upgrade due to spiralling costs.
The government department named the Acceleration Unit that was tasked with a mission to speed-up the delivery of transport infrastructure projects and the implementation of policy initiatives and programmes to deliver against the government’s agenda to build back better, greener and faster from COVID-19, level up the UK and decarbonise transport. Launched by former Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps has been disbanded with the A66 one of its key infrastructure acceleration projects.
One of the four contractors appointed for delivery of the upgrade work have also step down from the project and a local contractor who’s company was involved in exploratory work along the A66 route, has said they “Can't believe there thinking about shelving the dualling” adding that they “have been told on good authority there's a good chance it won't go ahead.” blaming rising costs and that “government are expected to pause it for review for 12 months until after the next General Election then the government will shelve it.”
The Secretary of State is required to give a position on the application by National Highways by November. National Highways have said if the Development Consent Order (DCO) is granted, then they will start work in 2024.
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