A1 in to Ellingham scheme

Public consultation

Share your views

Spring 2019 Scheme location

Berwick-upon-Tweed

A1 Objectives Scotland Ellingham A697 Alnwick of the scheme Alnwick to Ellingham scheme Investing in your roads Felton By dualling the A1 between Alnwick and

At Highways , we believe in a Infrastructure Project under the Planning Act Ellingham, we aim to: Northumberland National Park A696 Morpeth connected country and our road network 2008. As such, we are required to make an „„ improve safety for all users of the A1 makes these connections happen. We strive application for a Development Consent Order A68 „„ support economic growth in the area to improve our major roads and motorways to obtain planning permission to construct the A1 „„ provide a more consistent standard of road – engineering the future to keep people scheme. For more information on this process, Newcastle with more consistent layout of junctions A69 moving today and moving better tomorrow. please refer to our Development Consent for our A19 We want to make sure all our major roads Major Road Schemes leaflet, which is available „„ reduce the number of junctions and private are more dependable, durable and, most to view on our webpage: accesses to improve safety importantly, safe. That’s why we’re delivering highwaysengland.co.uk/a2e The A1 Alnwick to Ellingham dualling upgrade North Pennines Durham £15 billion of investment on our network – the Hard copies will also be available at the involves widening the A1 to dual carriageway A68 largest investment in a generation. Schemes consultation events. along the existing single carriageway road, for improving the A1 in Northumberland are approximately 5.3 miles. The route begins at a critical part of this investment and will the end of the Alnwick bypass in a northerly The consultation will run for Darlington improve journeys along the A1 between A66 6 weeks, from direction where it will tie in at the existing dual A1(M) Morpeth and Ellingham, which is great news carriageway at Brownieside, near Ellingham. © Crown copyright and database rights 2019 OS 100030649 for the local and regional economy. The A1 Monday 25 February to The final arrangement will consist of two lanes in Northumberland investment comprises 3 Monday 8 April 2019 both north and southbound separated by a distinct packages: central reservation and safety barrier.

„ „ A1 Morpeth to Felton dualling scheme In this brochure we explain our proposals There will be one new junction at Charlton „„ A1 Alnwick to Ellingham dualling scheme for the scheme and include our consultation Mires, connecting the A1, B6341 and B6347. Access will be provided for businesses and „„ A1 north of Ellingham improvements response form – properties to the new junctions. Farm access your responses will help us shape the scheme These schemes form part of a £290m investment and the bridleway/public right of way near before we submit our planning application. on the A1, which will provide additional capacity, Broxfield will be maintained via an overbridge. and improve journey times and safety while Details on how you can give us The scheme is illustrated on page 5. supporting economic growth in the region. your feedback during the public The A1 Alnwick to Ellingham scheme is consultation can be found on categorised as a Nationally Significant page 6 of this brochure. Note: All maps are diagrammatic only and are not to scale. 2 3 Alnwick to Ellingham

Key components of the Local and B roads Our proposed design proposed design Existing A1 New proposed roads A1 Permanent road closure We held a previous public consultation Since we announced our preferred route, we between November and December 2016, in have and continue to undertake environmental which the public were asked for their views surveys and have been working with

North on the proposals to dual a 5.3 mile section landowners directly affected by the scheme, to Charlton of the A1 between the Alnwick bypass and develop the design. B6347 the Brownieside dual carriageway south of We are now ready to share our Ellingham. refined design with you and we’d like East Linkhall access road to know what you think. B6347 West Linkhall access road

Key element Details South Charlton B6347 The existing access roads to East Linkhall and West Linkhall will be closed for safety B6347 New access B6347 roads to West reasons. CharltonB6341 Mires junction Linkhall and New access roads will be provided off the Charlton Mires split-level junction, running South New access roads „„ Split-level junction, with bridge East Linkhall parallel to the A1. over the A1 CharltonB6341 „„ Access roads to East „„ Providing access to local roads Linkhall and West Linkhall The revamped Charlton Mires junction will ensure that existing links to the key and the A1 B6347 secondary routes in the area remain accessible but safer to negotiate, for both „„ Access roads to East Linkhall B6347 vehicles and pedestrians. These being the B6347 (linking the Northumberland coast Rock South Farm access road and West Linkhall in the east and towards the A697 in the west) and B6341 (linking Alnwick town centre

to Rothbury and the A696). The new overbridge will replace the existing staggered Rock South Farm Charlton Mires junction and as well as allowing access to secondary road networks, it will permit junction vehicles to manoeuvre from the north to southbound carriageway (or vice versa) without conflict with other vehicles.

To the immediate west of the A1 northbound entry and exit slip roads, a roundabout would link to the B6347 and B6341. An overbridge would be provided here from the northernmost arm of the roundabout crossing the A1 and linking to the southbound entry B6341 and exit slip roads via a T-junction, whilst also allowing access to the eastbound B6347.

B6341 New access The existing access road to Rock South Farm will be closed for safety reasons. road to Rock A new access road to Rock South Farm will be provided via the Charlton Mires junction South Farm (and B6347), running parallel to the A1.

An overbridge will be constructed as part of the scheme to maintain access across the A1 for existing public rights of way. There are two possible locations: option 1 Overbridge location Broxfield, as per the Preferred Route Announcement; or alternatively, option 2 Heckley Overbridge location B6341 A1 option 1 Fence, approximately 1km to the north. option 2 „„ Broxfield

The Broxfield location has minimal disruption to the existing public rights of way but B1340 „„ Heckley Fence B1340 would need more land to accommodate a new agricultural access track, which will be Denwick Overbridge located to the west of the A1 (alignment to be developed with associated landowners).

Heckley Fence location requires the existing public rights of way at Broxfield to be diverted approximately 1km to the north. However, it is more centrally situated along Alnwick the route to serve the needs of all surrounding public rights of way. The Heckley Fence Alnmouth Rd location would not require more land, as the overbridge would accommodate the Disclaimer: This image is a schematic required agricultural access across the A1. representation and is not to scale. A1068 A1068 4 © Crown copyright and database rights 2019 OS 100030649 5 Benefits and effects of the Consultation events proposed design One of the best ways to find out more about our proposals and have your say is to come to one When assessing the benefits and effects of the We have provided more detailed information of our consultation events. Here you’ll be able to find out more about the scheme and speak to proposed design, we looked at a variety of features, about the potential impacts of our proposal members of the project team who will be happy to answer any questions you may have. such as those summarised in the table below. and our proposed mitigation measures in our

Location Dates and times This information is based on the findings of Preliminary Environmental Information Rennington Village Hall Rennington, Northumberland, NE66 3RR Thursday 7 March 2019 - 3pm to 8pm detailed surveys and assessments that we Report (PEIR) which is also available to read in Rennington Village Hall Rennington, Northumberland, NE66 3RR Saturday 16 March 2019 - 10am to 3pm have carried out. Environmental impacts have a non-technical summary format. You can find both documents on the scheme web page Willowburn Leisure Centre Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 2JH Wednesday 20 March 2019 - 3pm to 8pm been assessed based on national guidance. highwaysengland.co.uk/a2e Willowburn Leisure Centre Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 2JH Saturday 30 March 2019 - 10am to 3pm

Online: complete the response form online at highwaysengland.co.uk/a2e Environmental Benefit/impact  Email us at: Our proposed mitigation topic of this scheme [email protected] Complete the consultation response form in this brochure: Air quality There are not likely to be any Mitigation assessments are in significant impacts or benefits development and will be included We will consider the Return it using the freepost provided generated upon air quality. in the Construction Environmental All responses must be health and ecological Post: Write to us at: Management Plan later in 2019. returned by 23:59 on related issues for A1 in Northumberland project team, 3rd Floor South, local and regional air The Construction Environmental Monday 8 April 2019 Highways England, Lateral, 8 City Walk, Leeds, LS11 9AT quality and the global Management Plan (a key issues of climate document used by the contractor change to avoid, minimise or mitigate Where to get the brochure any construction effects on Paper consultation brochures and response forms will also be available at the following locations the environment) will outline from 25 February 2019 (availability will depend on opening times). measures to control dust and emissions from construction activities and machinery. Location Opening times Alnwick Library Monday 9am - 6pm Friday 9am - 6pm Noise and vibration There is the potential for Once finalised the Construction Green Batt, Alnwick, Northumberland NE66 1TU Tuesday 9am - 5.30pm Saturday some temporary disruption Environmental Management Plan This considers noise Tel: 01670 622156 [email protected] Thursday 9am - 5.30pm 9.30am - 12.30pm for residents who live close to will outline measures to minimise generated through Wooler Library the scheme from construction construction noise and vibration. construction activities Cheviot Centre, Padgepool Place, Wooler, Northumberland Monday to Friday 10am - 4.30pm vehicles and machinery whilst and the impact of the Where possible, the alignment NE71 6BL Saturday 10am - 1pm the scheme is being built. Tel: 01665 282123 [email protected] scheme traffic flow, of the scheme will be designed noise and vibration Once the scheme is complete, to minimise noise impacts. Low Monday 10am - 1pm, 2pm - 7pm Amble Library levels. there is likely to be increased noise road surfacing and noise Wednesday 10am - 1pm, 2pm - 7pm Middleton Street, Amble, Northumberland NE65 0ET noise levels for some residents barriers will be installed, where Friday 10am - 1pm, 2pm - 5pm Consideration is also Tel: 01665 710419 [email protected] located near to the scheme due needed, to further reduce noise Saturday given to noise levels 9.30am - 12.30pm to an increase in traffic and the impacts of the scheme. once the scheme is Willowburn Leisure Centre road being moved closer to Monday to Friday 8am - 10pm operational. Alnwick, Northumberland NE66 2JH some properties. Saturday and Sunday 8am - 8pm Tel: 01670 620200

WSP By prior appointment only Amber Court, William Armstrong Drive, Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7YQ Tel: 0191 62000 6 7 Environmental Benefit/impact Environmental Benefit/impact Our proposed mitigation Our proposed mitigation topic of this scheme topic of this scheme

Cultural heritage The scheme may impact Direct impacts on above or Geology and soils There are not likely to be any Where possible, excavated on above or below-ground below-ground archaeology significant impacts or benefits material will be reused within the This considers the This considers the archaeology remains, protected remains will be minimised as generated upon geology and construction site. impact of the scheme impact of the scheme field boundaries, heritage assets far as possible through the soils. on archaeological and historic landscapes whilst it exclusion of designated areas on soil quality and the sites, historic is being built. from construction activities disturbance of any buildings and historic where possible. Where this is contaminated land. landscapes. The scheme could have not possible, the assets will be permanent impacts on the preserved in record or preserved Population and The construction of the scheme During the construction phase, setting of heritage assets and in situ. health would generate job opportunities. clear diversion routes will be historic landscapes once built. put in place to maintain access We will consider The dual carriageway will improve Where required, the scheme where possible. design will incorporate measures safety, journey time, journey times on the A1 between to enhance heritage assets by congestion and Alnwick and Ellingham, improve Replacement access roads providing screening where setting accessibility for the safety of the road and reduce will be provided where private impacts are likely. everyone along the traffic along local routes. access roads are permanently route. We will also closed to ensure access is Two properties will be lost as a Landscape The scheme will affect the A range of measures will be consider the effect maintained. result of the scheme where the character and visual landscape by the loss of implemented to limit visual effects of the scheme on Charlton Mires junction would be Several public rights of way will amenity trees and hedgerows during on the landscape, such as access to community built. be impacted through temporary construction. Views from some minimising vegetation loss, new facilities, businesses This considers and permanent closures or houses and public footpaths may planting (including hedgerows and houses during the impact of the diversions. also be affected by the widening and trees) and screening where construction and scheme on the local of the current road and the appropriate. once complete. landscape and on the proposed Charlton Mires junction quality of views from and overbridge. Material storage and properties nearby. Storage of material and waste Our Construction Environmental waste management generated during construction Management Plan will define Ecology and nature The scheme has the potential Mitigation measures will be put during construction will need to be managed. how materials and waste will be managed on site during conservation to impact habitats of principal in place to minimise the potential This considers the importance including arable impacts, such as planting and construction. This considers the amount of waste fields, hedgerows and improving the existing habitats. impact of the scheme materials to be woodlands, and protected on ecologically created or reused as or notable species including important sites and part of the scheme. badgers, bats and water vole. protected species such as barn owls.

Road drainage The scheme could affect the Our Construction Environmental and the water quality of watercourses and Management Plan will define environment could increase flood risk. the control measures to be implemented to reduce the risk This considers the of these potential impacts during impact of the scheme construction. on surface water, groundwater and By improving the drainage flood risk both during system and the road surface we construction and will help to prevent flooding and once the scheme has improve the quality of the water finished. entering local waterways.

8 9 Next steps

Once the consultation has closed on 8 April In addition to this consultation process, we will 2019, we’ll review all of the suggestions continue to engage with anyone interested in, or and comments that we have received. We impacted by, the scheme. will take time to analyse and consider your To help us shape the final design in preparation of feedback when making further refinements our submission to the Planning Inspectorate, it is to the proposed design and to develop our important you are involved now and submit your planned mitigation measures. We will set out response by Monday 8 April 2019. a summary of the responses, and describe how our proposals have been informed and Once we submit our application, the Planning influenced by them, in a consultation report. Inspectorate (acting on behalf of the Secretary This will form part of our development consent of State) may examine the application in public application and will also be available to the public hearings and then make a recommendation to the following submission of the application. We Secretary of State for Transport, who will decide expect to submit our application by late 2019 and on whether or not the scheme will go ahead. provided it is granted works will start in 2021. The process for this is explained in the table below.

Options Development Construction

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Statutory Construction Option Option Preliminary Construction procedures commissioning Close out identi cation selection design and powers preparation and handover

Public Examination consultation by Planning Feb - April Inspectorate Options for 2019 and decision by Road public consultation Secretary of State opened Application for development consent Project Preferred route Morpeth to Ellingham Close out initiated announcement commitment to September 2017 construct March 2020 - Alnwick to Ellingham to start 2021

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