Almost half city transport schemes delayed
People in Coventry are set to wait longer for major changes to roads, rail and buses. Almost half the city’s key transport projects will take more time than planned two years ago.
Upgrades to junctions, improvements to buses and cycling, and futuristic light rail and charging projects are affected. Details of the delays are revealed in council meeting papers.
The council is seeking to make changes to a list of 60 transport projects it set out in 2022. This document shows the schemes developed by the council and other groups that will affect the city over the next 15 years.
It has details of how long each project will be in development and when work to roll them out will start and finish. But the council’s latest update will see timescales changed and five projects added to reflect its latest plans.
We compared the 2022 and 2024 list of schemes and found that 30 of the original 60 projects will take longer to develop and/or deliver than planned. Details of exactly what is changing can be found below.
Councillors will be asked to formally agree the changes at meetings in the coming weeks. More than two-thirds, 21, of the delayed schemes are being led by the council and it is the main partner for five others.
The LDRS asked the council and other groups involved with the projects for comment. In a statement National Highways said: “As part of assessing options for Walgrave junction, we needed to ensure that the design met the needs of road users and the community whilst providing value for money. Investigating a variety of designs added to the development time for the scheme and this, along with the time needed to negotiate a contract with our suppliers, impacted proposed start of work dates.
“Between October and December last year the proposed new look junction – known as a grade separated junction – was taken to public consultation which showed two thirds of people were in favour of improvements. This junction allows for a free flowing A46 carriageway while also enabling road users to enter and exit the local road network.
“Start of work is now scheduled for late 2026, subject to government funding.” Rugby Borough Council is only involved in the Ansty scheme as the local planning authority, meaning it if the scheme develops it would consider any application against relevant policies.
In January, Transport for West Midlands announced it is working with regional and national groups on a “smart ticketing solution” for buses and trams, with a group to meet four times a year. Last year it reallocated almost half the funding from an £88 million bus service improvement plan which it said would avoid bus services being withdrawn.
Trains and light rail
Improvements to Tile Hill station
Original plan: Work to start and finish in 2024/25
New plan: In development for another year. Work to start and finish in 2025/26
Delay: 1 year
Lead groups: Coventry City Council (CCC) and Transport for West Midlands (TfWM)
A test track for Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) in the city centre
Original plan: Work to start and finish in 2023/24
New plan: In development for another year. Work to start in 2024/25 and finish in 2025/26
Delay: 1-2 years
Lead group: CCC
A first CVLR route linking Coventry station to University Hospital
Original plan: Work to start in 2024/25 and finish in 2026/27
New plan: In development for another three years. Work to start and finish in 2027/28+
Delay: At least 1-3 years
Lead group: CCC
Buses
Improvements to bus services
Original plan: Work to start in 2022/23 and finish in 2024/25
New plan: Work will take another year and finish in 2025/26
Delay: 1 year
Lead group: TfWM
A park and ride service at Ansty
Original plan: Work to start in 2024/25 and finish in 2025/26
New plan: In development for another three years. Work to start and finish in 2027/28+
Delay: At least 2-3 years
Lead groups: CCC, Warwickshire County Council (WCC), and Rugby Borough Council (RBC)
Road improvements and safety
Upgrades to the A46 Stoneleigh junction
Original plan: Work to be completed in 2022/23
New plan: Work to take another two years and be completed in 2024/25
Delay: 2 years
Lead group: Warwickshire County Council
Upgrades to the A46 Walsgrave junction
Original plan: Work to start in 2024/25 and finish in 2026/27
New plan: Work to start in 2026/27 and finish in 2027/28+
Delay: 2 years until work starts and work will finish at least 1 year past original plan
Lead group: National Highways
Works to improve air quality at Spon End, Ring Road junction 7 and Holyhead Road
Original plan: Work to be completed in 2023/24
New plan: Work to be completed in 2024/25 – Holyhead Road is only scheme left to be finished.
Delay: 1 year
Lead group: CCC
Cycling and walking
More restrictions on car traffic in the city centre to make it better for pedestrians – known as the ‘City Centre Traffic Management Plan.’
Original plan: Work to be finished in 2023/24
New plan: Work to be finished in 2024/25
Delay: 1 year
Lead group: CCC
Changes to ring-road junctions to cut congestion
Original plan: Work to start in 2025/26 and finish in 2026/27
New plan: Work to start and finish in 2027-28+
Delay: 2 years before work starts, work will finish at least 1 year after original timescale
Lead group: CCC
Improvements to local centres
Original plan: Work to start in 2023/24 and finish in 2026/27
New plan: Work to start in 2025/26 and finish in 2026/27
Delay 2 years
Lead group: CCC
Schemes to reduce traffic and boost active travel in Foleshill
Original plan: Work to start in 2023/24 and finish in 2024/25
New plan: Work to finish in 2025/26
Delay: 1 year
Lead group: CCC
Improving areas at the A444 and London Road in the south of the city. NB: More work is now planned than in 2022 due to extra funding
Original plan: Work to start in 2023/24 and finish in 2024/25
New plan: Work to finish in 2026/27
Delay: 2 years
Lead group: CCC
New cycleways linking the city centre with Coundon and Binley
Original plan: Work to be completed by 2023/24
New plan: Work to be completed by 2024/25
Delay: 1 year
Lead group: CCC
Better cycle connections between the University of Warwick and parts of the city
Original plan: Work to start and finish in 2023/24
New plan: Work to finish in 2024/25
Delay: 1 year
Lead group: CCC
New cycleways linking new housing schemes at Eastern Green with parts of the city
Original plan: Work to start in 2023/24 and finish in 2025/26
New plan: Scheme in development for another two years. Work to start in 2025/26 and finish in 2026/27
Delay: 1-2 years
Lead group: CCC
New cycleways linking new housing schemes in Keresley with parts of the city. NB: A new route has been added to this
Original plan: Work to start in 2023/24 and finish in 2025/26
New plan: Scheme in development for another year. Work to start in 2024/25 and finish in 2025/26
Delay: 1 year
Lead group: CCC
Two ‘liveable neighbourhoods’ in the city
Original plan: Work to start and finish in 2023/24
New plan: In development for another year. Work to start in 2024/25 and finish in 2025/26
Delay: 1-2 years
Lead group: CCC
More liveable neighbourhoods and school streets
Original plan: Work to start in 2022/23 on an ongoing programme
New plan: Work to start in 2025/26 after the initial trial schemes
Delay: 3 years
Lead group: CCC
Delivering more cycleways to establish a “complete network” at key locations across the city
Original plan: Work to start in 2024/25 and finish in 2027/28+
New plan: In development for another year. Work to start in 2025/26 and finish in 2027/28+
Delay: 1 year
Lead group: CCC
Zero emission and shared vehicles
A new ‘CLEAN’ hub for Coventry and Warwickshire
Original plan: Work to start in 2024/25 and finish in 2025/26
New plan: In development for three more years. Work to start and finish in 2027/28+
Delay: At least 2-3 years
Lead groups: CCC and WCC
Charging hubs in local neighbourhoods around the city – ongoing programme.
Original plan: Work to start in 2023/24 and finish in 2027/28+
New plan: Work to start in 2024/25 and finish in 2027/28+
Delay: 1 year
Lead group: CCC
A ‘super charging hub’ for electric vehicles. NB: Project now on hold
Original plan: Work to start in 2026/27
New plan: Scheme in development for at least another year, work to start in 2027/28+
Delay: At least 1 year
Lead group: CCC
Freight
A freight consolidation centre in Ansty
Original plan: Work to start in 2026/27 and finish in 2027/28+
New plan: Scheme in development for at least another year, work will start and finish in 2027/28+
Delay: At least 1 year
Lead groups: CCC and WCC
Encouraging behaviour change
‘Mobility credits’ trialled for people moving into new homes in Keresley and Eastern Green
Original plan: Work to start in 2023/24 and finish in 2027/28+
New plan: Work to start in 2024/25 and finish in 2027/28+
Delay: 1 year
Lead group: CCC
Plans and strategies
Developing an “integrated public transport network plan” for the city based on the outcomes of other projects
Original plan: Work to start in 2024/25 and finish in 2027/28+
New plan: Scheme in development for another two years. Work to start in 2026/27 and finish in 2027/28+
Delay: 2 years
Lead group: CCC
Putting together a detailed plan of local walking and cycling improvements
Original plan: Work to start in 2024/25 and finish in 2027/28+
New plan: Scheme in development for another year. Work to start in 2025/26 and finish in 2027/28+
Delay: 1 year
Lead group: CCC
Reviewing the council’s parking strategy
Original plan: Work to start in 2023/24 and finish in 2027/28+
New plan: Scheme in development for another two years. Work to start in 2025/26 and finish in 2027/28+
Delay: 2 years
Lead group: CCC
A new design guide for transport infrastructure for development and applications to council schemes
Original plan: Work to start in 2023/24 and finish in 2027/28+
New plan: Scheme in development for another two years. Work to start in 2025/26 and finish in 2027/28+
Delay: 2 years
Lead group: CCC
Developing a more detailed plan of the city’s future public transport network
Original plan: Work to start in 2024/25 and finish in 2027/28+
New plan: Scheme in development for another two years. Work to start in 2026/27 and finish in 2027/28+
Delay: 2 years
Lead group: CCC