Chris Ames 05 March 2025

DfT throws Norfolk – and Shropshire – a lifeline

DfT throws Norfolk – and Shropshire – a lifeline image
Image: Richard OD / Shutterstock.com.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has said it will not ask Norfolk County Council to return £33m funding towards its shelved £274m link road.

In January the highway authority withdrew its planning application for the Norwich Western Link scheme after advice from Natural England about its impact on bats, leaving the council at risk of having to repay the DfT funding.

On Monday, Cllr Graham Plant, cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure, told the council’s cabinet: ‘Officers have been discussing the future of our priority Norwich Western Link project with our key funding partner, the Department for Transport.

‘As a result of these discussions, DfT have confirmed that they will not ask for the £33m they have already committed to the project to be returned. Reaching agreement on this was one of our priorities for these discussions, and forms part of our aim to achieve a good outcome for Norfolk related to the Norwich Western Link.’

Regarding the position taken by Natural England, Cllr Plant said council leader Kay Mason Billig ‘has also received a supportive letter from the secretary of state for transport about the situation we find ourselves in and the future of the project’.

He said: ‘While the secretary of state has confirmed that DfT cannot intervene in any individual decisions made by statutory environmental bodies, she has acknowledged that the leader’s letter raised “important questions about how Natural England engages with scheme promoters”.

‘She has therefore told us that DfT officials will hold discussions with their counterparts in Defra “to ensure such engagement is carried out in a way that supports the Government’s missions”.’

The BBC reported that the DfT had confirmed the council would not need to repay the £33m, but expected to be provided with proposals for ‘alternative solutions to the Norwich Western Link to relieve congestion on local roads’.

Opponents of the Shrewsbury North West Relief Road (NWRR), currently priced at £215m but with a funding gap of £176m, seized upon the news as providing a ‘lifeline’ for Shropshire Council.

Last month, Shropshire said that if it decided not to progress the scheme, it expected to have to repay £39m to the Government.

Mike Streetly from Better Shrewsbury Transport said: ‘Shropshire Council’s finance officer said that from a purely financial point of view it would be better to build the NWRR rather than have to repay the £39m the council has spent to date on consultants as the government would only cover the sunk costs if they cancelled the project.

‘But now it appears there is an alternative plan: talk to the Department for Transport and arrange for the costs spent to date on this disastrous, ill-conceived road to be written off.’

This article was originally published by Highways.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Standards, Compliance and Development Manager - Children’s residential provisions

Oxfordshire County Council
£57187.00 - £60485.00
This role will lead on Quality Assurance, Standards development, and Regulatory compliance for Oxfordshire’s residential children’s provision, including the unregulated reforms 2022. The post holder will conduct internal inspections within the registe Countywide
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council

Streetcare LGV Driver / Operative - WMF2112e

Westmorland and Furness Council
£27,711 - £28,624
Westmorland and Furness Council are seeking to employ an enthusiastic and motivated person into a Street Cleansing role Cumbria
Recuriter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Specialist Communication Support Worker (CDC)

City Of Doncaster Council
Grade 7, £27,259 - £29,955 (pay award pending)
The City of Doncaster Council puts improving the life of its residents at the centre of everything we do. Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recuriter: City Of Doncaster Council

Apprentice Social Value

Durham County Council
£14,566
Earn. Learn. Qualify.   Do you want to earn while you learn, with the chance of progression once you qualify? Do you want the opportunity to grow, dev Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Pay Reward and Employment Services Support Officers

Durham County Council
£25,584 to £27,711 p.a. (Grade 5) Pay Award Pending
An exciting opportunity has arisen for ten Pay, Reward & Employment Services Support Officers to join our CIPP accredited team.   WHAT IS INVOLVED?  Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner