Specialist CPO solicitor, Catherine Hibbert, gives an update on the current situation with regard to the proposed widening of the A12 between J19 Boreham, and J25 Marks Tey/A120.
National Highways has confirmed that the legal challenge to the confirmed development consent order for the proposed A12 widening scheme has now run its course.
The development consent order authorising this scheme was confirmed in January 2024 and allows National Highways a period of up to five years from that date in which to exercise the powers of compulsory purchase conferred upon it for the purpose of this scheme.
It is understood that National Highways has not to date taken any action to implement its powers of compulsory purchase, even though the legal challenge has now apparently concluded. The National Highways website currently states that;-
‘We’re investigating what impact the legal challenge has had on the delivery of this scheme and will provide an update in due course’.
It is noteworthy that the new labour Government has also initiated an internal review of the Department of Transport’s Capital Spend Portfolio in July 2024, to address the gap they had identified between promised transport schemes and funds available to deliver them. In particular, it has been claimed that the Government inherited a £22 billion public spending gap for 2024 from the previous Administration, £2.9 billion of which related to unfunded transport commitments.
The new Secretary of State for Transport commented in this regard that;-
‘We will bring in external expertise and move quickly to make recommendations about current and future schemes. This review will support the development of our new long-term strategy for transport, developing a modern and integrated network with people at its heart and ensuring that transport infrastructure can be delivered efficiently and on time.’
The outcome of this review and its implications for the A12 widening scheme is awaited. We will continue to monitor the situation and will update our website as appropriate.
In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact one of our knowledgeable CPO/DCO team of solicitors, Mike Harman, Catherine Hibbert and Mel Francis, should you require any advice in relation to the impacts of this scheme on your interests.
Call us on 01206 593933 today to speak with one of our compulsory purchase order solicitors. Or complete the form below.
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