Improving the A47 North to Easton dualling

Public consultation

March 2017 We have been working closely with local The 6 schemes are: authorities to ensure that our proposals align 3. Scheme objectives Improving the A47 corridor: with local and regional plans and aspirations for We are improving the A47 around A47 Wansford to Sutton dualling growth. The objectives of the proposed North Tuddenham to Easton dualling scheme are: Peterborough, Norwich and A47 Guyhirn junction improvement There will be a further statutory public Great Yarmouth to create better, consultation before any scheme is fi nalised. Supporting economic growth safer journeys. A47 North Tuddenham to Easton dualling The consultation will run for 6 weeks from Contributing to sustainable economic growth by supporting employment and residential Monday 13 March to Friday 21 April 2017. A47 Blofield to North Burlingham dualling development opportunities. The scheme aims to reduce congestion-related delay, improve journey A47/A11 Thickthorn junction improvement time reliability and increase the overall capacity of 1. Introduction 2. Need for the scheme the A47.

A47 Great Yarmouth junction improvements About us Approximately half of the A47 is already dual A safe and serviceable network (Formerly A47/A12 junction enhancements) carriageway standard, but the section between North Tuddenham and Easton is still single Highways is the government owned carriageway. This acts as a bottleneck, resulting Improving road safety for all road users by company charged with operating, maintaining We are consulting on all 6 schemes at the same in congestion and leading to longer and unreliable designing to modern highway standards and improving England’s motorways and major time. In this brochure, you can find out more journey times. This section of the A47 also has a appropriate for a major A road. A roads. Formerly the Highways Agency, we about the A47 North Tuddenham to Easton dualling. To fi nd out more about the other poor safety record. became a government owned company in 2015. A more free-flowing network schemes or request a copy of the consultation brochure, please visit: There are a number of reasons for these About the A47 corridor problems. Our investigations to date have Increasing the resilience of the road in coping improvement scheme highlighted these issues as: with incidents such as collisions, breakdowns, maintenance and extreme weather. The improved Online: Road layout route between North Tuddenham and Easton In 2014 the government published the www.highways.gov.uk/a47Improvement will be more reliable, reducing journey times and Road Investment Strategy (RIS) setting out providing capacity for future traffi c growth. a £15.1 billion investment for 2015-2020 to Difficulty of accessing and crossing the Email: improve journeys on England’s motorways A47 from side accesses and roads A47NorthTuddenhamtoEastonRIS@ Improved environment and major A roads. highwaysengland.co.uk Standard of the road and junctions Protecting the environment by minimising adverse The RIS includes a package of 6 schemes impacts and, where possible, improving the to improve journeys on the 115 mile section Traffic levels outgrowing the capacity of the environmental effects of the scheme on those of the A47 between Peterborough and Great In total, over £2 billion is being invested in road, causing tailbacks and delays living along the route. Yarmouth. Together, the proposals will relieve the to create better and safer congestion and improve the reliability of journey journeys across the region. Limited opportunities for overtaking slower times for drivers. An accessible and integrated network moving vehicles We want your views The A47 trunk road forms part of the strategic Ensuring the proposals take into account local Development in the local area road network and provides for a variety of local, communities and access to the road network, medium and long distance trips between the A1 We are consulting on proposals to improve the providing a safer route between communities and the east coast. The corridor connects the A47 between North Tuddenham and Easton. Our The delays on this stretch of the A47 are forecast for cyclists, pedestrians, equestrians and other cities of Norwich and Peterborough, the towns of proposals will create a new dual carriageway that to worsen if nothing is done to improve capacity non-motorised groups. Wisbech, Kings Lynn, , Great Yarmouth will relieve congestion, provide extra road space, and connectivity. and Lowestoft and a succession of villages in improve safety and help provide a free-fl owing Value for money what is largely a rural area. network. In developing this scheme, we aim to address these issues by upgrading this section of the A47 Ensuring that the scheme is affordable and The schemes include converting almost This consultation provides you with an opportunity to a high quality dual carriageway. delivers good value for money. 8 miles of single carriageway to dual carriageway to view, discuss and help shape our proposals. and making improvements to junctions across This will help us understand what is important to The improvements will support economic growth the route. our customers and local communities, and inform by making journeys safer and more reliable. 2 the selection of a preferred route. 3 Proposed option 1 Dualling to the north of 4. Our proposed the existing A47 options B1535

We have developed 4 route options Weston A1067 for consultation. Longville

Building a new dual carriageway to RiRiver Wensum ver the north of the existing A47. Wens

um Dualling the existing A47. d Proposed oa R

junction h Building a new dual carriageway t a North e Taverham e to the south and to the north of the n H Heath a Tuddenham L

existing A47. l l Ringland Building a new dual carriageway to Ha Weston Green

e the south of the existing A47. n

a . n L L A47 Park y d Where we propose to build a new Lane d n o a o road, the existing carriageway will be S W Low Road Hockering retained for access to fi elds, farms, B1535 properties and for non-motorists. LaLanene Mill Lane Taverham Road Proposed option 1 Queen’s A47 Hills

. ch Lane Option 1 proposes building a new n Proposed L

s dual carriageway to the north of the ’ ChurChurch Lane y junction r Honingham existing A47. r e

B The new dual carriageway follows East an alignment running to the north Tuddenham A47 of the existing A47. Mattishall Dereham Road Easton Road At the western end of the scheme, Costessey the route passes to the south of Lodge Hockering Wood,a Site of Special Colton Scientifi c Interest, and to the north of the village of Hockering.

The remainder of the route passes predominantly through open farm land and woodland habitat before crossing the River Tud close to River Yare Easton.

Where we are creating a new road to the north of the existing A47, we Barford would need to acquire land along © Crown copyright and database rights 2017 Ordnance Survey 100030649 - N160494 - DIAGRAMMATIC the route.

4 5 Proposed option 2 Dualling of the Proposed existing A47 B1535 option 2 Weston Longville A1067 Option 2 proposes dualling of the existing A47. River Wensum W ensu m The new dual carriageway d Proposed oa R follows an alignment running junction h t as close as possible to the a Hockering North e Taverham e n H Heath a existing A47. Tuddenham L

l l Ringland Ha Weston Green Improvements to the existing e n alignment will be needed to a . n L L A47 Park y d bring the route up to dual Lane d n o a o d S carriageway standards. In W Low RRoadoad Hockering places this will deviate from the B1535 existing alignment. Mattishall Lane Mill Lane Taverham RoaRoad Queen’s We would need to acquire land A47 Hills in order to widen the current

. ch Lane n Proposed L route to a dual carriageway s ’ ChurChurch Lane y junction and accommodate the r Honingham r e River Tud improvements. B East A47 Mattishall Tuddenham DeDerehamreham RoaRoad Easton d Costessey Lodge Colton

River Yare

Barford © Crown copyright and database rights 2017 Ordnance Survey 100030649 - N160494 - DIAGRAMMATIC

6 7 Proposed option 3 Dualling to the south and Proposed north of the existing A47 option 3 B1535 Weston Longville A1067 Option 3 proposes building a new dual carriageway to the south and RiveRiver Wensum r W to the north of the existing A47. e nsu m d Proposed oa The new dual carriageway R

h junction t Hockering follows an alignment running a North e Taverham e Heath n H a to the south of the A47 but to Tuddenham L

l the north of the River Tud as l Proposed Ringland

Ha the route passes the village of over/under Weston Green e Hockering. bridge n a . n L L A47 Park y d Lane d n o a o The carriageway then switches S W Low Road Hockering to the north of the existing A47 B1535 as the route passes the village MatMattishalltishall Lane Mill Lane of Honingham. Taverham Road Queen’s Hills The route passes predominantly A47

. n Proposed through open farm land and L

s ’ Church Lane y junction some woodland habitat and r Honingham r e River Tud crosses the River Tud at the B Easton end. East A47 Mattishall Tuddenham DDerehamereham Road The proposed route of the A47 Easton is a new and wider highway Costessey and will therefore require the Lodge acquisition of land along the Colton route.

River Yare

Barford © Crown copyright and database rights 2017 Ordnance Survey 100030649 - N160494 - DIAGRAMMATIC

8 9 Proposed option 4 Dualling to the south Proposed of the existing A47 B1535 option 4 Weston Longville A1067 Option 4 proposes building a new

dual carriageway to the south of the River Wensum existing A47. W ensu m d The new dual carriageway Proposed oa R

follows an alignment running to junction h t a Hockering North e Taverham e the south of the existing A47 and n H Heath a Tuddenham L

to the south of the River Tud. l l Ringland Ha Weston Green At the western end of the e n

a . scheme, it crosses the River Tud n L L A47 Park y d before passing to the south of Lane d n o a o d S the village of Honingham and W Low RRoadoad Hockering returning to the A47 at Easton. B1535 Mattishall Lane Mill Lane The route runs predominantly Taverham RoaRoad through open farmland and Queen’s Hills semi-improved grassland. A47

. ch Lane n Proposed L

s The proposed route of the A47 ’ ChurChurch Lane y junction r Honingham r corridor to the south of the e River Tud

B existing is effectively a new East highway corridor, so we would Tuddenham A47 need to acquire land along Mattishall DeDerehamreham RoaRoad the route to accommodate the Easton d improvements. Costessey Lodge Colton Alternative options

A number of potential alternative options were considered as part of the scheme development process during 2016. These options did not River Yare perform well against the objectives and therefore were not progressed any further. Barford © Crown copyright and database rights 2017 Ordnance Survey 100030649 - N160494 - DIAGRAMMATIC

10 11 Environmental constraints plan North Tuddenham 5. Respecting © Crown copyright and database rights 2017 Ordnance Survey 100030649 - N160494 - DIAGRAMMATIC RRiver Wensum iver to Easton W the environment e Hockering Wood SSSI ns um d Whichever option is selected oa R

to improve the route, we will h t a Hockering safeguard and protectNorth the local e e n H Heath a environment. We areTuddenham surveying the L

l local surroundings, and the data l Ringland

Ha collected will be used to decide Church of Manor Weston Green St Michael House ways to both reduce any negative NIA 5201 e n

a . effects and contribute towards A47 n L L Park y improving the local environment. d LaneLane d n o We will plan any construction a o S W to minimise effects on the Low Road Hockering environment. Manor B1535 Farmhouse MattishaMattishallll LaLanene Mill It is highly likely that we would LaLanene Taverham Road need to acquire land adjacent to A47 the existing route. All options pass Church of predominantly through open land Lane St Peter NIA 5200 .

n

and some woodland. L

s East ’ Church Lane y River Tud r Honingham Tuddenham r

Please see the environmental e constraints plan for details. Mattishall B NIA 5202 A47 Icehouse Easton Church of Church Legend St Andrew Farmhouse

Nature conservation Noise NIA 6287 Site of Special Scientifc Interest (SSSI) Noise Important Area (NIA) Ancient woodland Public Rights of Way (PRoWs) Colton Woodland Bridleway Habitats of potential ecological importance Byway Open to All Traffic (BOAT) Listed buildings Footpath Grade I Restricted byway Grade II* Other map features Grade II School Ponds and running water River Yare

12 13 Local communities England and Wildlife Trust as well as local Your views are important to us. We will consider interest groups. The design will allow for habitat 6. Next steps all responses to this consultation. Your feedback The public rights of way network will remain in replacement and create opportunities for new will help inform the decision on the preferred place or alternatives will be provided. Pedestrian habitats. Preferred route solution. and cycle routes and crossings will also be maintained around the existing carriageway or Historic environment This consultation is your opportunity to express Below are the key milestones and the steps replaced where required. your views on the proposal at an early stage of we plan to take before we start construction: The area contains a variety of features of cultural development and ahead of the selection of a We will use earth mounds and planting where heritage importance, archaeological sites and preferred route. After the consultation ends, we possible to help screen the route from nearby listed buildings. will publish a report summarising our fi ndings. Summer 2017 properties. New lighting will be designed to From this we will make recommendations for We will analyse the consultation minimise light pollution. We will include various measures in the scheme further development of the scheme. responses and undertake additional design to reduce the impacts on these areas. technical work Landscape Subject to the fi ndings of the consultation, a preferred route announcement will be made in Air quality Autumn 2017 To reduce the visual impact of the scheme, we late 2017 and the pre-application stage of the If there is a compelling case for the will plant areas of trees, shrubs and grassland. development consent process will begin. Our initial assessment shows that there will scheme and a suitable option is selected, Where possible, we will use native species that be no signifi cant changes in air quality for the a preferred route will be announced are local to the area. residential properties in the area. Most residential Development Consent Order areas are expected to experience improved application Wildlife and nature conservation air quality as a result of the scheme, due to Autumn 2017 improved traffi c fl ows. We will engage with communities, land The study area for the scheme includes a range This scheme is classed as a Nationally owners and stakeholders on the preferred of habitats that support different plant and wildlife We will monitor the effects on air quality in the Signifi cant Infrastructure Project under the route and design species. We are currently carrying out ecological area with the aim of meeting national air quality Planning Act 2008. As such, we are required to surveys in the area to identify any evidence of objectives. make an application for a Development Consent protected species, including bats, badgers, Order in order to obtain permission to construct the scheme. The application will be made to Winter 2017/18 water voles, great crested newts, white-clawed Noise Statutory public consultation on the the Planning Inspectorate who will examine the crayfi sh, reptiles and birds. preferred route application in public hearings and then make Our initial noise assessment shows that there will a recommendation to the Secretary of State for If we fi nd any evidence of protected species, be no signifi cant changes in noise in the built-up Transport who will decide on whether or not the we will ensure that these are considered as areas along the route. We will use low noise road project will go ahead. part of the design stage and that there are surfacing and the detailed design will include Summer 2018 appropriate mitigation measure in place to further assessments to determine whether any Submit an application for a Development reduce any impacts of the scheme. This work additional noise mitigation, such as barriers, is We currently intend to make our application by Consent Order (Planning Application) will be carried out in consultation with Natural required. summer 2018. Prior to the application, you will have another opportunity to have your say with We will pay particular attention to the properties a public consultation on our preliminary design nearest to the proposed route. proposals. Winter 2019/20 Decision on the Development Consent More information about the Development Order (estimated) Water Consent Order process can be found on the Planning Inspectorate’s website: We will provide appropriate http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk drainage to deal with the surface Construction starts* water from the road. Existing (estimated) watercourses and groundwater will be protected with balancing 7. What happens next? ponds, pollution control devices and water treatment features. We are at the early stages of this project and there are many stages to come. This includes *Construction on the A47 corridor improvement is likely another opportunity to have your say before a to start in spring 2020. We may need to sequence the fi nal decision is made. improvements along the route to manage the disruption to customers and local communities. 14 15 8. Share your views Conf dentiality and data protection This is the fi rst stage in our consultation process and we would like to know what you think about the proposed options. We will listen to your views and publish a Consultation Report to inform the selection Information provided in response to this For more information about what of a preferred route. consultation, including personal information, information can be requested under the may be subject to publication or disclosure FOIA, see: Join us at one of our events. Members of our team will be on hand to answer your questions. in accordance with the access to information regimes (these are primarily the Freedom https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/official- Public information events of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), the information Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) and the Venue Date Time Environmental Information Regulations 2004). Highways England will process your personal data in accordance with the DPA Honingham Village Hall Thursday 6 April 3pm - 8pm If you want any information that you provide and in the majority of circumstances this to be treated as confi dential, please be aware will mean that your personal data will not Hockering Village Hall Friday 7 April 10am - 5pm that under the FOIA, there is a statutory Code be disclosed to third parties. of Practice with which public authorities must Easton Village Hall Saturday 8 April 1pm - 4pm comply and which deals, amongst other things, with obligations of confi dence.

9. How to respond

Please only respond using one of the following channels, which have been set up for the specif c purpose of this consultation:

Website: www.highways.gov.uk/a47Improvement

Email: [email protected]

Post: You can write to us or post paper copy responses to: FREEPOST A47 North Tuddenham to Easton

We cannot accept responsibility for ensuring responses that are sent to addresses other than those described above are included in the consultation process. All responses must include at least your postcode. Please state whether you are responding as an individual or representing the views of an organisation. If responding on behalf of an organisation, please make it clear who the organisation represents and, where applicable, how the views of members were assembled.

The f nal date we will accept consultation responses will be no later than 11:59pm on Friday 21 April 2017.

For further information about the scheme or this consultation, please call the Highways England Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000.

16 17 A47 North Tuddenham to Easton

18 19 If you need help accessing this or any other Highways England information, please call 0300 123 5000 and we will help you.

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