Progress report

We submitted the Development Consent Order (DCO) to the Planning Inspectorate. Our proposals for the A38 Derby Junctions were accepted by the Planning Inspectorate on 21 May 2019 for formal examination. This is a significant milestone for our scheme, as it means we’ve taken a big step towards delivering the much-needed improvements on this stretch of road. You can view our planning application on the Planning Inspectorate’s website. As you may know, a DCO is a special type of planning application which is needed for a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP).

Relevant Representations have now been received by the Planning Inspectorate. You can view a list of all those registered to put their case on A38 Derby Junctions together with Relevant Representations.

All documents from the Preliminary Meeting, which was held on Tuesday 8 October 2019 and helped the Examining Authority determine how our application should be examined, can be found in the 'Documents' area on the Planning Inspectorate's website. Invitations to this meeting were sent to Interested Parties. Whether or not an Interested Party chose to attend the Preliminary Meeting, they were sent details of how to take part in the examination.

Due to Covid-19, our DCO application documents are no longer available to view at deposit points. For more information on these hearings, the examination of the Application and full timetable (and any amendments to it), including how and when to register to speak at the hearings and how and when to make written submissions, please contact the Planning Inspectorate using the details below, or visit the Planning Inspectorate's website where procedural decisions and notices of hearings are available to download.

The examination period for the application of the A38 Derby Junctions Development Consent Order (DCO) has now been extended to September 2020 and we will continue to work hard to make progress on this important project. During this time, Highways England is working hard to keep the network open, and have prioritised critical operational activities at this time.

This will help ensure that life-saving medicine, equipment, supplies and healthcare staff can travel to where they’re needed most. As people follow the Government’s advice, traffic volumes appear to be reducing. Maintaining a safe road network is our priority and that’s what our on-road teams, control room staff and the people who support them are all working hard to do.

Copies of the Application documents, including the draft Development Consent Order, the compulsory acquisition information (including the Land Plans, Book of Reference, Funding Statement and Statement of Reasons) and the Environmental Statement can be viewed and downloaded online at the Planning Inspectorate’s project website. Please contact us on 0300 123 5000 or email A38derbyjunctions@highwaysengland.co.uk if you have difficulty accessing the documents.

What's next?

Over the next few months the Planning Inspectorate will make arrangements to carry out an Examination of our application. This will be led by an Examining Authority made up of one or more Examining Inspectors. The Planning Inspectorate will then have 6 months to carry out the Examination. The Planning Inspectorate (acting on behalf of the Secretary of State) will examine the application in public hearings and then make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Transport, who will decide on whether or not the scheme will go ahead. The planning inspectorate has six months to carry out the Examination.

We are continuing to work safely wherever possible, therefore we are currently continuing to carry out ground investigation works at Kingsway, Markeaton and Little Eaton over the coming months, this important work will input into the detailed design.

All our sites have strict safeguarding measures, in line with Public Health England guidance, to prevent the spread of COVID19 and none of our sites are open to the public, closely monitored and the situation is kept under constant review.

Safety is our number one priority and we always apply the Government’s latest advice. We have well tested contingency plans and our on-road teams, control room staff and the people who back them up are all working hard to maintain a safe road network whilst this work is carried out.

You can find more information about this process on the Planning Inspectorate’s National Infrastructure Planning webpage. An Examination Timetable has now been supplied, which shows the dates of all events taking place. The Examination Timetable is also set out in an annex to the Rule 8 letter that was sent to Interested Parties at the start of the Examination. Watch this video about the process for more information.

Timeline

Why we need this scheme

The A38 is an important route from Birmingham to Derby and through to the M1 at junction 28. Where it passes through Derby, long distance traffic interacts with a large volume of vehicles making local journeys. These interactions create congestion and delays at the following 3 existing roundabout junctions to the west and north of Derby city centre:

• A38/A5111 Kingsway roundabout
• A38/A52 Markeaton roundabout
• A38/A61 Little Eaton roundabout

Highways England is committed to resolving these issues. After delivering improvement schemes at Little Eaton and Markeaton roundabouts in 2014/2015 to reduce congestion in the short term, we have been developing longer term plans to resolve the traffic problems more permanently.

The scheme's objectives

The Government’s strategic vision for the road network is to make journeys better in the Midlands by operating, maintaining and improving major A roads and motorways, through a programme of investment to ensure that the region’s roads are fit for now and the future. The specific objectives of the A38 Derby Junctions scheme are to:

• reduce congestion and improve the reliability of journey times between Birmingham, Derby and the M1
• help facilitate regional development and growth in Derby City and its surrounding
• improve safety for all road users, and for those people living near the junctions
• connect people by maintaining existing facilities (eg crossings and ramps etc) or providing new means for cyclists, pedestrians and disabled users to cross the road

Aims

• reduce congestion
• increase capacity
• improve journey time reliability
• improve road safety
• support local regeneration and development plans

Guidance for people whose property may be affected by one of our schemes

Large scale or major public works alongside or close to a property can reduce its value, making it hard to sell at market rate.

We’ve produced the following documents which help you understand what you can do if you believe your house is impacted by major trunk road proposals or improvements:

• Your property and Highways England road proposals
• A guide to Part I claims
• Your property and compulsory purchase
• Your property and discretionary purchase
• Your property and blight

Roadworks and Events for England

The latest incident information for England's motorway and trunk routes provided by Highways England