A303 Sparkford to Ilchester Dualling Scheme

Newsletter - summer 2018

In this edition  Our application for a Development Consent Order  An update on what is happening across the wider A303/A358 corridor  Highways England’s vehicle checks campaign

Welcome to the latest update from the A303 Sparkford to Ilchester dualling scheme In our last newsletter we provided an update of our application, the Planning Inspectorate will regarding the ground investigation survey work hold an examination in public about the scheme, we had been doing following the statutory before making a recommendation to the Secretary consultation at the beginning of the year. This of State for Transport, who will decide whether it update explains how we have now reached should go ahead. another significant milestone on the project – that being the submission of our application for a Development Consent Order (DCO).

What is a Development Consent Order, and why is it important? The A303 Sparkford to Ilchester dualling scheme is a major development and as such it’s classified as a nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP) under the Planning Act 2008. NSIPs require a special type of planning permission known as a Reaching this point – where our application has Development Consent Order. been submitted – is significant. It’s the culmination of 3 years’ worth of hard work, during which time Unlike most planning permissions which are we’ve held 2 consultations and liaised with a great considered by local authorities, DCO applications many stakeholders and partners. We’re grateful to are made to the Planning Inspectorate, which everyone who has helped us get this far, including administers the application process on behalf of local residents, road users, parish councils and the Secretary of State. Following the submission local authorities amongst others. What’s in our application? As you’ll be aware, we’re applying to upgrade to cross the A303 at the new junctions we’re the A303 between Sparkford and Ilchester to a creating at Downhead and Hazlegrove. Our high quality dual carriageway. Our intention is to application contains information that will allow it upgrade the road along an alignment close to that to be properly examined, before the Secretary of the current A303, and create new junctions at of State makes the decision. It also contains a Hazlegrove, Downhead Lane and Camel Cross. copy of the consultation report which summarises the feedback we received during the statutory consultation earlier this year, along with our As part of the scheme, we’ll also remove crossings response to it. There are also detailed plans, and and other direct accesses to improve the safety reports that fully outline the impact that the road of the road. People using local roads or travelling scheme is expected to have on the environment. by foot, bicycle and horse will, however, be able

New A303 dual carriageway

New slip roads Yarcombe Wood A303 Former A303 (detrunked) DyDyke Brroook Existing road to be closed A359 Proposed local roads

Proposed non motorised user route Sparkford

Existing non motorised user routes* Steart Hill Steart Wood Camel Hill Annis Hazlegrove Hill Roundabout

Downhead Gason Ln. A359 Traits Ln. Howell Hill River Cam Plowage Ln. A303 Queen Camel Wales

B3151 West Camel

River Heathcote Rd. Bridgehampton Cam

Royal Naval Air Station, Yeovilton

0 500m DIAGRAMMATIC © Crown copyright and database rights 2018 OS 100030649

*Selected existing non-motorised routes will tie into new non-motorised routes constructed as part of the scheme, to retain connectivity north and south of the new A303. How we responded to the feedback we had at consultation? Taking into account the feedback we had on removed a layby opposite the eastbound our proposals, most recently via the statutory side of the Sparkford bypass consultation in January, we adjusted our plans changed prioritisation at Downhead before we submitted our application for the junction to give priority to the slip road off Development Consent Order (DCO). the A303 where Downhead Lane meets Specifically, we: Steart Hill replaced the T-junction proposed as part of changed the route of the temporary road Hazlegrove junction with a roundabout to for construction traffic, in response to improve safety for road users feedback from people living next to amended the layout of Hazlegrove junction the route. to make it more compact replaced the access to Hazlegrove House, As noted above, all of the comments we received from the eastbound entry slip road for during the consultation, along with details of how Hazlegrove junction, with a separate we have responded to them, have been set out private access in a consultation report. We have submitted this as part of our DCO application. This report will be changed the prioritisation at Camel Cross available to read on the Planning Inspectorate’s junction. Our plans now show that priority National Infrastructure Planning website (as part will be given to vehicles entering or leaving of our submission) as soon as possible after the the B3151 application is submitted. straightened a diagonal bridge proposed as part of Downhead Junction. This has made the layout of this junction simpler overall and cheaper to build and maintain What happens now? Now our application has been submitted, we’re There then follows a maximum period of 6 months in the hands of the Planning Inspectorate while for an appointed examining inspector to examine it prepares for the examination by the appointed the application and 3 months for the examining examining inspector. authority to make its recommendation to the Secretary of State for Transport about whether or There is a fixed legal process for determining the not development consent should be granted. application from here on in; this is administered by the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) on behalf of the Following receipt of the examining inspector Secretary of State. Specifically PINS have 28 days recommendation, the Secretary of State has a to decide whether to accept our application for period of 3 months, in which to issue a decision. examination. If it is accepted, there will then be a period of 3-4 months during which the examining From accepting an application to making inspector will be appointed and preparations are a decision, the whole process should last made for the examination. During this time we will approximately 16 months. publish a notice explaining that the application has been accepted and including details about You can find more information on the how and when the public and others can register Planning Inspectorate’s National Infrastructure their interest in the scheme by making a relevant Planning website: https://infrastructure. representation via the PINS National Infrastructure planninginspectorate.gov.uk/ Planning website. Those who register to become interested parties will be able to participate in the examination. 98 A6

A697

A68

A697

A1068

A696 A189

A68

58 A10

A6071

A1300

A184 95 A689 A68 A6

0 A129 A686 A1231 A689 A692

A694 A690 A693

A692

A691 A596 A690 A182

A595

A68 A181 A1086

A690 A689

A591 A594 A686 A177

A68

A689 9 A68

A178 A5091 A177

A592 A6

A5086 A688 A66

A174

A591 A67

A171

A6 A172

A685

A167

A592

A172

A6 A171

A683 A685 A6136 A591

A5074 A684

A593 A684 A169 A595 A684 A592 A684 A167 A5084

A168

A65 A170 A5092 A6108 A683 A170

A595 A5093 A65

A169 A1039

A6 A687 A165 A19

A683 A168

A614

A61

A6055

A166 A59 A59 A65 A59 A1237

A658

A661

A164

A6 A629 A658 A165 A588 A61

A6034 A614 A682 A659 A659

A58 A1035 A56 A586

A59 A650 A6068 A64 A6 A19 A163 A1034 A586

A614 A59 A583 A6033 A63 A162 A164 A677 A646 A1041

A642 A656 A63 A584 A68 A671 A639 A6 A19

A682 A645 A1033

A61 A6 A645

A59 A614

A666 A6 A675 81 A565 A161

A58

A58 A1077 A640 628 A A581 A614 A640 A672 A639 A642 A 660 A15

61 A A676

A19 A640 A62 A A5106 A58 A636 628 A638 A18 A5209 A663 A18 A49 A6027 A672 A565 A58 A5147 A58 A666 A1 8 A577 A6 A635 A18 A6053 A664 A59 A58 A635 A616 A635 A577 A576 A6024 A628 A630 A630 A667 A1084

A6 A627 A570 A577 A46

A614

A56

A579 A6 A629 A572 A18 A5207 A571 A62 A6010 A159 A1031 A506

A580 A580 A161 A635 A630

A565

A574 A5103 A57 A15 A580 A6102 A16 A58 A6 A505 8 A560 A61

A551 A569 A57 A631

A570 A34 A631 A626 A57 A631 A1031 A57 A6144 A57

A5300 A5080 A56 A5149

A552 A557 A50 A620 A157 A533 A157 A551 A6 A56 A50 A57 A5137 A538 A625 A41 A6135 A1104 A559 A523 A6187 A557 A533 A46 A540

A49 A34 A623 A1500 A538 A156 A153 A16 A619 A1111 A57 A621 A61

17 A533 A614 A158 A51 A616 A158 A46 A60 A537 A1028 A50 A6 A57 A619 A52 A41 A56 A34 A619 A632 A556 A616 A535 A6075 A54 A54 A536 A1133 A158 A515 A6 A617 A6075

A51 A61 A617 A54 A50 A6175 A51 A15 A155 A632 A616 A523 A53 A527

A41 A34 A5012

A530

A51 A617 A16 A534 A38 A153 A6

A49 A534 A60 A5020 A607 A534 A534 A523 A17 A53 A52 A500 A614 A610 A531 A606 A52 A611 A51 A6097 A517 A529 A60

A6211 A6 A530 A1121 A52 A52 A149 A608 A153 A17

A609 A6096 A522

A520

A16 A52 A6005 A41 A148 A52 A52 A515 A606 A495 A6 A152 A149 A516 A5111 05 A60 A15 A149

A518

A17 A511 A5132 A49 A607 A148 A519 A528 A442 A6006 A606 A60 A151 A151

A51 A53 A1078 A495 A140 A513 A511 A151 A514 A515 A1067

A444 A518 A512 A1065 A1062 A149 A41

A34 A15 A149

A518 1151 A51 A6121 A A449 A513 A16 A1101 A460 A6 A458 A511 A1073 A5223 A606 A1064 A607 A134 A5

A458 A10 0

A606 A1 A14 A1042 A447 A1175 7 A444

A563

A51 A6 A1122 A11 A563 A1122 A1065

A607 A488 A47 A47 A15 A4169 A464 A452 A6121 A442 A1075 A34 A461 A4124 A449 A47 A146 A41 A460 A453 A5127

462 A51 A47 A563 A490 A1139 A454 A4091 A6 A605 A1101 A458 A41 A10 A459 A4123 A6003

A454 A43 A134 A449

A140 A143 A458 A47 A449 A5127 T1 M1 M42 1 16 A146 A489 13 A461 1 6 5 4a 8 A427 Dudley M5 A141 A426 A605 A4101 2 A4123 A427 7a A444 Corby

A4540 An update on the rest of the 7 4 3a M69 A145 14A45 A1(M) A444 A5 Birmingham 3 A1065 A143 A446 M6 20 A488 3 A144 Stourbridge 6 A45 A4304 A43 15 A435 A41 2 A1066 A303/A358 corridor A441 A6 A6116 A1101 A442 A45 16 M6 A14 1 A4300 A491 5 Coventry 19 A38 A508 A142 A1095 The A303 Sparkford to Ilchester scheme is just The changes, which seekA34 to further enhanceA46 the A426 Kettering A14 15 14 A1088 M42 A452 A428 A141 A4117 4 4 A4113 A4141 A45 Rugby M42 A45 A14 A1123 2 A6 A1 one of three* planned projects designed to famous landscape4a 1 and3 reconnect the twoA423 halves 18 A134 A143 A4110 A456 3a A510 A12 NORTHAMPTONSHIREA509 A448 Bromsgrove 16 A5199 A14 A435 17 A1101 A38 A445 M45 A142 A448 Royal A456 of the 6,500-acreM5 WorldA4023 Heritage Site A45 improve the A303/A358 corridor, creating a high A46 A43 Redditch M40 A4177 Leamington A426 A1 A10 Spa A5 A428Northampton A14 WORCESTERSHIRE5 A4508 A443 A4133 quality dual carriageway link betweenA49 the south (WHS), include: A4189 A425 A4112 A448 15 A452 A425 A45 A1120 14 A428 A1303 9 A1303 A45 A6 14 A1307 A3400 13 A130 A441 A435 A1303 A1094 16 A5076 13 east and south west. Here’s a summary of what’s A429 A44 removing the previously proposed A428 BEDFORD A1198 A1304 A44 6 15a

A422 A439 12 A1134 happening with each of the other 2 schemes A44 12 15 A603 link between Byways 11 and 12 in the Bedford A143 A46 A422 A423 A4111 Worcester 7 A12 A4112 A4440

M1 A509 at present: A10 A417 Stonehenge WHS to avoid affecting the A134 WARWICKSHIREA3400 A361 MILTON A603 A44 A1307 A480 A4103 M40 A422 A1141 A1156 A508 KEYNES A1 A1214 A465 A421 A438 A505 A1017 setting of the Normanton Down barrow A1092 A449 A5 A1071 A4104 A6 A1156 A43 A600 A1214 A4184 A413 A44 A422 11 A422 A358 Taunton to Southfields: Following a non- 14 A6001 CENTRAL A134 A438 group and tranquility of the A429site in this area A509 Banbury A422 Hereford A449 A4104 8 BEDFORDSHIRE A505 Milton Keynes A421 1 13 A438 A5130 A507 A422 A507 A A600 15 COUNTY OF A10 A417 10 statutory options consultation at the beginning 4 A422

A137 HEREFORDSHIRE widening the green bridge proposedA3400 near A1017 A4012 A44 A5102 2 9 A421 A1124 A131 A465 A421 of the year, this scheme is expected to make its A361 A449 A435 A4146 9 the existing Longbarrow roundabout to A505 A424 12 A507 A466 BUCKINGHAMSHIRE A137 A49 A449 A4421 A413 A5102 M50 A417 M5 10 A1(M) A1124 preferred route announcement in the autumn. After A5 A505 8 A1017 4 3 A38 improve10 A4019 the physical and visual connection Luton Stevenage A4012 34 A1124 A137 Cheltenham 11 that there will be a statutory consultation before an A4260 7 A120 A505 11 A424 A4095 A505 A602 betweenA40 the northern and southern parts of A418 A436 A44 A40 A40 A361 A133 A40 A41 10a 9 A41 Dunstable A602 application for a Development Consent Order is 11a A4146 10 A436 A1081 A131 the WHS A119 Gloucester A38 A40 6 A1184 9 A1060 A4151 submitted. A4136 A435 A41 A119 A48 Aylesbury A413 A130 A41 5 A4173 A46 A4095 A414 A417 Hemel A414 12 moving the proposed modification of A418 A1000 A40 A40 St Albans 4 Welwyn Hempstead A5183

A429 A4165 A4144 Garden A10 Oxford A1057 A1016 A4147 City GLOUCESTERSHIRE A4129 8 A1169 13 A414 3 Rollestone crossroads to provide a moreA415 A40 A418 7 A414 2 A361 A413 A41 A414 A1170 A4142 8a A48 A38 A4146 A419 A414 A414 A303 Stonehenge – Amesbury to Berwick A1016 A414 A34 8 21 A4010 21a 22 7 A416 6a 6 A130 compact layout. 20 A5183 A419 OXFORDSHIREA4095 23 A128 A420 A40 A4 1 24 25 Down: Taking on feedback from the statutory A417 M40 19 1 A1 26 M25 A113 A329 5 A405 A46

6 10 A415 A4074 High A A48 5 A404 18 M1 A132 consultation that was held earlier this year, the A4135 Wycombe A355 17 4 A129 A433 A429 A404

14 A361 People are being invited to have their say on theA338 A40 A129 A406 A128 A176 M48 A5 12 A132 2 A420 M25 A410 A A46 4 2 A406 Stonehenge project team is proposing 3 design A419 A4130 3 4 A1015 A38 M5 A417 A12 A127 1 M48 A4185 2 A4311 A404 A127 A127 proposed changes in a consultationSwindon that will run A40 A1159 A4130 A406 A13 1 A13 M4 A4155 16 M4 21 SOUTH A417 A41 changes on which it’s holding a supplementary22 1a 1 A308(M) A406 20 A3102 A5 GLOUCESTERSHIRE M4 A40 A13 A130 16 15 from 17 July until 14 August. You can find out more A4074 A1014 M49A403 16 Slough A46 A34 M5 A40 consultation (this began on 17 July). The17 schemeA432 15 9b 7a30 A38 17 A3102 A4 7 M4 Avonmouth 19 A346 9a 18a 1 on the scheme webpage: WEST 8 6 15 A4 18 26 9 4b 4 3 2 1 18 21 A404(M) 5

A350 A BERKSHIRE 4a will improve journeys on the busy A3034018 routeM32 and M4 Reading A4 M4 A207 A228 19 A4 2 A46 A4361 29 14 M25 A4 A420 A338 M4 A250 A369 A4174 www.highwaysengland.co.uk/A303stonehenge A3113 A30 3 A420 14 13 A330 13 create a much-needed bypass for Winterbourne A30 12 28 A226 Bristol A342 10 20 A431 A4 A4 A316 A4 1 A4 A4 A2 Newbury 5 11 12 A28 4 Stoke while preserving the Outstanding UniversalA4 A365 2 M3

A38 * A total of 8 improvement schemes A346were initially identified 56 A370 A2 A299 A299 2 A431 A322 M3 A 27 A327 A321 11 A37 A36 (all outlinedA363 in the booklet ‘Creating an Expressway to the NORTH A3 A228 A299 Value of the Stonehenge21 World Heritage Site. 3 A227 A225

A39

A291

Bath A224 A320 A2 WILTSHIRE A338 A290 A28 Weston-super-Mare SOMERSET BATH AND South West, TheA361 case for the A303 /A358 corridor’ which Woking A36 A33 10 A368 A340 A257 A339 4 9 NE SOMERSET A367 A233 can be found on our website). 9 A25 4a A322 A23 A342 A247 M25 A251 A34 A30 A217 7 A366 Basingstoke A320 A37 A3 A361 7 A343 5 8 8 6 A25 6 A20 A252 Aldershot A256 A362 A345 SURREY A371 A350 A342 A26

A338 A361 A287 A28 22 A3098 A31 A217

A39 A23 A303 Guildford A227 A274 A39 A360 A3093 7 M23 A258 A25 A24 A362 8 A38 A303 A228 A3057

HAMPSHIRE A23 A22 A3123 A39 A281 A287 A361 A359 A31 A229 A260 23 A343 A339 9a 9 A39 A350 M3 A39 A39 A361 A36 3 A399 A29

A2 10 A325 A264 A361 A28 Crawley 9 A3 5 A272 A360 3 A338 A2 A262 A30 10a A20 A396 A358 Bridgwater 24 A37 A33 11 A264 A26 SOMERSET A267 A371 9 A29 A30 A361 A36 Winchester A31 A268 Taunton Salisbury 10 A283 A281 A38 A272 A259 A372 A3057 11 A23

A338 A361 25 A3090 A32 A286 A272 A272 A265 A39 A378 A30 A27 12 A28 A37 A354 2 A29 A38 26 A358 A359 13 A24 A22 14 A267 A3088 4 A30 5 A275 1 A350 2 3 WEST A281 M27 A2100 A361 1 1 A273 27 Yeovil A26 A3124 A38 1 24 7 SUSSEX A283 A388 A356 A357 2 A285 A3030 A3(M) A271 A21 8 A269 M5 M271 A3 A286 A386 A30 A31 M27 A22 A303 Havant A283 A27 A259 DEVON A37 3 9 Chichester A23 A377 28 10 A27 SouthamptonA337 4 A326 11 A270 A396 A27 5 A35 A270 A352 12 A259 A3072 A356 A2270 A3066 DORSET A3023 A27 A259 A26 A22 A3072 Fareham A259 A373 A30 A32 A27 A259 A3072 A350 Brighton A259 A358 Littlehampton Worthing

A354 A338 A259 A288 A286 Bognor Regis A3079 A348 Portsmouth25 A30 Exeter A35 Poole A35 A35 29 A3049 A375 A3052 A350 A35 30 A35 A338 1. A358 Taunton to Southfields A35 Bournemouth2. A303 Sparkford to Ilchester A3054 31 23 Newport A354 CORNWALL A376 A352 22 3. A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down A395 ISLE OF A386 A379 A351

A382 A353 WIGHT

A30 A380 A38 Weymouth

Numbered unitary areas: A389

A379 21 CITY OF BRISTOL A39 A38 A390 A386 Torquay 22 POOLE Plymouth 23 BOURNEMOUTH A3059 TORBAY

A392 24 CITY OF A385 Paignton SOUTHAMPTON A391 A38 A387 A3058 25 CITY OF PORTSMOUTH A3122

A3075 A379 A390

A381 A39 CITY OF A30 PLYMOUTH A379 A39 A393

A3074 A3078

A3071 Falmouth Penzance A394 A30

A3083 Highways England re launches its The videos cover: vehicle checks campaign as summer Checking tyres getaway begins Checking engine oil As the schools break up and the mad dash to the Checking water South West begins again, Highways England’s Checking lights campaign team is again pushing out a range Motorists are also being urged to: of messages about how to travel safely on the Check fuel strategic road network. The intention is to ensure For more detailed information on how to carry out that the network remains free flowing, and that the your vehicle checks, or to watch the TV advert that number of breakdowns from otherwise preventable has been used around the campaign, visit problems are minimised. http://think.direct.gov.uk/carchecks.html.

Almost half of all breakdowns are caused by simple mechanical problems that could be avoided with simple checks and nearly a quarter are caused by tyre problems. Meanwhile, around 22 motorists break down each day because they run out of fuel.

Highways England’s Head of Road Safety, Richard Leonard, said: Where to go for further information You can find our application by going to the “We want all drivers to arrive at their destinations project page for our scheme on PINS National safely this summer. Infrastructure Planning website here: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate. “Anyone who runs out of fuel is putting themselves gov.uk/projects/south-west/a303-sparkford- and other road users, including their own to-ilchester-dualling/ passengers at risk: with a few simple checks that If you have any other queries about the scheme, risk can be overcome and everyone will be safer.” or you wish to contact the Highways England project team, you can: log onto: Highways England has produced 5 short highwaysengland.co.uk/a303-sparkford-to- instructional videos featuring traffic officer Siobhan ilchester Wares, explaining how to check tyre pressure, Call us on: 0300 123 5000 tyre tread, oil and water levels and lights to Email us at: help prevent needless breakdowns and cut the A303SparkfordtoIlchesterdualling@ unnecessary delays they cause. highwaysengland.co.uk.

If you need help accessing this or any other Highways England information, please call 0300 123 5000 and we will help you.

© Crown copyright 2018. If you have any enquiries about this publication email info@highwaysengland. You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or co.uk or call 0300 123 5000*. Please quote the Highways England publications medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence: code PR84/18. visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London Highways England creative job number BRS18_0173 TW9 4DU, or email [email protected]. *Calls to 03 numbers cost no more than a national rate call to an 01 or 02 number Mapping (where present): © Crown copyright and database rights 2018 OS and must count towards any inclusive minutes in the same way as 01 and 02 calls. 100030649. You are permitted to use this data solely to enable you to respond These rules apply to calls from any type of line including mobile, BT, other fixed line to, or interact with, the organisation that provided you with the data. You are not or payphone. Calls may be recorded or monitored. permitted to copy, sub-licence, distribute or sell any of this data to third parties in any form. Registered office Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford GU1 4LZ Highways England Company Limited registered in England and Wales This document is also available on our website at www.gov.uk/highways number 09346363 For an accessible version of this publication please call 0300 123 5000 and we will help you.