M27 Southampton junction 8

We're making improvements to the M27 junction 8 and Windhover roundabout.

Start date Autumn 2023

End date TBC

Cost £25 - £50 million

Latest updates

22 June 2023

Public Inquiry outcome

The Secretary of State has not approved our application for Compulsory Purchase Order and Side Road Order powers which would allow us to make improvements to the M27 Junction 8 near Southampton.

We accept the Secretary of State’s decision and will now take some time to review the detailed contents and advice within the Inspector’s Report to determine how best to proceed.

We understand the challenges at M27 Junction 8 and Windhover have not gone away and we remain committed to working with our partners to support our shared objectives for the local area, which are to improve safety and reduce congestion.
25 October 2022

Public Inquiry update

The Public Inquiry for the M27 Southampton Junction 8 improvement scheme was held from Tuesday 10 May to Friday 17 June 2022.

All documentation, including core documents and Proofs of Evidence, can be found on the Programme Officer’s website.

We hope to receive the Department for Transport decision letter in early 2023 and will provide an update to all stakeholders thereafter. This decision letter will then allow us to re-programme the start of construction and we will hold a pre-construction information event ahead of any works taking place.
05 May 2022

Public Inquiry

The Pre-Inquiries Meeting was held on the 26 January 2022. Notes from the meeting can be found on the Programme Officer’s website.

The Public Inquiry for the M27 Southampton Junction 8 improvement scheme will be held on Tuesday 10 May 2022 (starting at 10am) at Highpoint Centre, Bursledon Road, Thornhill, Southampton, SO19 8BR. It is anticipated that the inquiry will last for up to 12 days.
The proofs of evidence submitted prior to the original opening date for the Inquiries (30 November 2021) have since been updated. These, along with the rebuttal proofs of evidence, will be taken into account when the Inquiries open on 10 May 2022. All documentation, including core documents and Proofs of Evidence, can be located on the Programme Officer’s website.
10 January 2022

Public Inquiry and Virtual Pre-Inquiry Meeting Dates

On 20 December 2021, we received notice from the Department for Transport (DfT) that the Public Inquiry for the M27 Southampton Junction 8 improvement scheme which was due to be on 30 November 2021 will now be on Tuesday 10 May 2022 (starting at 10am) at Highpoint Centre, Bursledon Road, Thornhill, Southampton, SO19 8BR. At this stage, it is anticipated the inquiry will last for up to 12 days.

A Pre-Inquiry meeting will also be held as a virtual event on 26 January 2022 at 10:00am. At this meeting the Inspector will wish to discuss procedural and administrative matters relating to the forthcoming inquiry. You can find more information about Highways Act 1980 Orders in the project information section below.

Those who wish to attend the Pre-Inquiries Meeting should contact the Inquiries Programme Officer at yvonneparker@programmeofficers.co.uk Alternatively, telephone 01282 450522 by 12 January 2022. Registered participants will receive individual joining instructions, providing details of any requirements, guidance and support, for joining by Teams or telephone.

The proofs of evidence and rebuttal proofs of evidence submitted prior to the original opening date for the Inquiries, 30 November 2021, will be carried forward and taken into account when the Inquiries open on 10 May 2022. All documentation including core documents and Proofs of Evidence can be located on the Programme Officer’s website at: https://programmeofficers.co.uk/m27j8/
25 November 2021

Postponement of Public Inquiry

The Public Inquiry has been postponed on the instruction of the Planning Inspector. The revised date for the Public Inquiry will be advised as soon as it is known.
Any queries regarding the revised programme of the Public Inquiry should be made directly to yvonneparker@programmeofficers.co.uk.
All documents related to the Public Inquiry continue to be available to view on the programme officer's webpage dedicated to the scheme.
27 September 2021

Programme Officer appointed

Yvonne Parker has been appointed as Programme Officer for the M27 Southampton Junction 8 Improvement Scheme Public Inquiry.
Any queries regarding the programme of the Public Inquiry should be made directly to yvonneparker@programmeofficers.co.uk
All documents related to the Public Inquiry will be available to view on the programme officer's webpage dedicated to the M27 Southampton Junction 8 Improvement Scheme.
31 August 2021
Public Inquiry, dates and statement of case

On 28 June 2021 the Department for Transport (DfT) issued to all objectors a ‘notice of intention to hold Public Local Inquiries’ into the Orders for the M27 Southampton Junction improvement scheme.
As part of the process, we have written a Statement of Case which summarises the scheme, objections and representations and National Highways responses.
Reference copies of the Statement of Case and supporting documents related to the scheme referred to in the Statement of Case are available for inspection at:
- The offices of National Highways Company Limited, Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford, GU1 4LZ
- Hedge End Library, 11 Upper Northam Road, Hedge End, Southampton, SO30 4DY (Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9:30am to 5pm and Saturday 9:30am to 1:30pm.)
- Thornhill Community Library, 328 Hinkler Road, Thornhill, Southampton, SO19 6DF (Monday 2pm 4:30pm and Friday 9.30am – 12:00
  noon.)
Public Inquiry and Virtual Pre-Inquiry Meeting Dates

On 19 August 2021, Highways England received notice from the DfT that the Public Inquiry for the M27 Southampton Junction 8 improvement scheme will be held on 30 November 2021 starting at 10am at Highpoint Centre, Bursledon Road, Thornhill, Southampton, SO19 8BR.

A Pre-Inquiry meeting will also be held as a virtual event on 17 September 2021 at 2pm. At this meeting the Inspector will arrange the timetable for the proceedings in connection with the scheme Orders. You can find more information about Highways Act 1980 Orders in the Project Information section on this page.

Those who wish to attend the Pre-Inquiries Meeting should contact ETC@planninginspectorate.gov.uk quoting the DPI reference number (DPI/J1725/21/21) and giving their contact details. Alternatively, telephone 0303 4445572.
16 April 2021

Highways Act 1980 Orders

We published the Orders for the M27 Southampton Junction 8 scheme under the Highways Act 1980 on 16 April 2021 and submitted both the Side Roads Order and Compulsory Purchase Order to the Secretary of State for Transport for confirmation.

Further details can be found below under the section Highways Act 1980 Orders
23 March 2021

Commencement of Detailed Design

Preliminary design has now been completed and our Supplier has commenced the detailed design.

The Environmental Assessment Report completed as part of the preliminary design is now available in the documents area at the bottom of this page under the heading "Stage 3 Environmental Assessment Reports."
27 August 2020

August 2020

The scheme is progressing towards the completion of the preliminary design.
31 March 2020

Further investigative work

Now that we’ve announced our preferred scheme we’ll carry out further surveys and investigation to allow us to continue to design the scheme in more detail. Once we’ve completed this work we’ll hold some public events so that you can view the final design and ask any questions you may have.
03 March 2020

Preferred route

Following the consultation, we’ve continued to develop the proposed route taking into account issues and alternative suggestions raised during consultation. We’ve also carried out some additional work to establish the solution that provides best value for money. This has led to the scheme being reassessed and we’ve now decided on a joint approach, working with Southampton City Council to deliver the improvements.

We’ll continue to progress the scheme at the M27 junction 8 and Windhover Roundabout, while Southampton City Council will now deliver improvements at junctions along the A3024 corridor.

Find out more about our preferred route.

See more updates

Project information

Research has shown that the M27 junction 8 has unfortunately had a significant number of casualties, particularly between 2009 and 2011.

Poor air quality associated with vehicle emissions is currently an issue within the local area. The local authorities are keen to make improvements to encourage more sustainable modes of transport such as walking, cycling or public transport in an effort to improve air quality and health.

Congestion at Windhover roundabout is currently caused by a combination of localised peak time traffic (7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm) and rat-running to avoid M27 junction 8 tailbacks.

The scheme improvements will help alleviate traffic congestion which will benefit the community in terms of better air quality for local residents and support the economy by providing improved journey times for local businesses using the route. The improvements will lead to a reduction in the number of casualties.

The aims of this scheme are to:

support economic growth – contributing to sustainable economic growth by supporting employment and local residential development opportunities
improve connectivity and reduce journey times around M27 junction 8 and Windhover Roundabout
provide a safe and serviceable network – improving the safety record at M27 junction 8 and Windhover Roundabout (60 year look ahead assessment period)
provide a more free-flowing and reliable network – reducing congestion around the M27 junction 8 and Windhover Roundabout and improve journey time reliability and connectivity between east and west of the M27 junction 8 – Windhover Roundabout
provide a safe, accessible and integrated network – delivering capacity enhancements to the M27 junction 8 and Windhover Roundabout, while supporting the safe, accessible use of active travel modes for pedestrians and cyclists
provide an improved environment – seeking to prevent the worsening of air quality by reducing congestion and journey times along the M27 junction 8 and Windhover Roundabout and aiming to mitigate noise impact

We made the Orders for the M27 Southampton Junction 8 Improvement Scheme under the Highways Act 1980 on 30 March 2021 and submitted both the Side Roads Order and Compulsory Purchase Order to the Secretary of State for Transport for confirmation.

You can view and read them electronically by following these links:

Copy of Sealed Compulsory Purchase Order and Plan - part 1

Copy of Sealed Compulsory Purchase Order and Plan - part 2

Copy of Sealed Side Roads Order and Plan

General Arrangement-Engineering Drawing

Notice of making the Compulsory Purchase Order

Notice of making the Side Roads Order

Statement of Reasons

Environmental Masterplan Sheet 1

Environmental Masterplan Sheet 2

Environmental Masterplan (Amended to suit Flood Compensation Areas)

Environmental Impact Assessment - Notice of Determination

Environmental Assessment Report - see 'Stage 3 Environmental Assessment Reports' under Documents below

Preferred Route Announcement brochure

Report on Public Consultation

Between 16 April and 29 May 2021 paper copies of these documents will also be available to view at the following locations:

The offices of Highways England Company Limited, Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford,GU1 4LZ
Hedge End Library, 11 Upper Northam Road, Hedge End, Southampton SO30 4DY (Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.); and

Paper copies are not yet available to view at Thornhill Community Library in Southampton but we will update this web page as soon as copies can be viewed there.

The Orders are open to objection or representation until 29 May 2021. Any objection to the Order(s) must be made in writing to the Secretary of State for Transport, at the National Transport Casework Team, Tyneside House, Skinnerburn Road, Newcastle Business Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7AR or by email to nationalcasework@dft.gov.uk before 29 May 2021 and should state the title of the Order, the grounds of objection and the objector’s address and interests in the land. In the preparation of an objection and the statement of the grounds of objection, it should be borne in mind that the substance of any objection or representation may be communicated to other people who may be affected by it. Further details are available in the notices that can be accessed using the links above.

If you have difficulty accessing any of the documents please contact us and we will try to supply you directly with an electronic copy.

Secretary of State Decision

The Secretary of State will then consider the Scheme and any objections or representations received. This may be followed by a public inquiry or other procedure, before the Secretary of State makes a decision on whether the Orders can be confirmed.

Public Inquiry Notice - Signed

Public Inquiry Notice - Attendance Information Annexe