National Highways issues A38 Derby update

National Highways claims a legal challenge against its planned overhaul of the A38 in Derby has ended – paving the way for the £250 million project.

The organisation released an update on Monday (March 10) which said it is now “continuing to plan and prepare for the next stages” of the scheme.

Major works could see new flyovers and underpasses created across the A38 at the current Little Eaton, Markeaton and Kingsway islands and see it widened to three lanes in a bid to “make journeys smoother for motorists”.

However, despite the legal challenge apparently having ended, National Highways said in an update that the plans are still subject to a Department for Transport review on its spending portfolio “including current and future road schemes”.

National Highways said: “While the review is ongoing, we remain committed to the scheme and are currently updating costs estimates and developing our procurement and communication strategy.”

The body says upgrading the A38 would benefit the city by “reducing congestion and improving the reliability of journey times between Birmingham, Derby and the M1” as well as helping to “facilitate regional development and growth in Derby city and its surroundings”.

But the planned project has been controversial since it first came to light. The Stop the A38 Road Expansion group has been campaigning for a number of years against the project. In 2021, the group successfully stopped the scheme through its first legal challenge. The Government issued a revised proposal in August 2023 and so the group launched a second legal challenge.

Campaigners said in a previous statement: “The A38 Derby Junctions scheme is set to cost an estimated £250 million—money that could be far better spent addressing the UK’s budget deficit and investing in much-needed public transport infrastructure. The economic justification for this scheme is deeply flawed, relying on an outdated benefit-cost ratio that has not been updated to reflect current economic conditions or environmental priorities.

“The A38 expansion will not only lead to the destruction of 11.38 hectares of woodland, with only 6.40 hectares being replanted, but it will also lock Derby into a car-dependent future at a time when we urgently need to be investing in sustainable, low-carbon transport solutions.”

National Highways now says it will be undertaking some localised site surveys of the road over the next 12 months. It says the surveys are to monitor wildlife in areas that will be affected by the scheme.

But more questions are likely to surround the proposed cost. The £250 million figure was stated when the plans first came to light several years ago. Since then the cost of construction and raw materials has gone up significantly.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has approached the Stop the A38 Expansion campaign group for further comment.

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