Council boss calls for rethink after A38 plans shelved

The leader of Derby City Council has questioned if the recently shelved A38 scheme was still the right plan 25 years on from its inception.

Councillor Nadine Peatfield has said it would be "right" for residents to give their views on the project, which she said remained "divisive" in the city.

The estimated £600m A38 scheme was approved by the government in July, and would see roads widened, with flyovers and underpasses constructed at Little Eaton, Markeaton and Kingsway roundabouts.

However, the government confirmed yesterday that the project could be one that is scrapped in order to pay for increased defence spending.

A public consultation on how to improve the A38 started in 2001, but the project has since been paused repeatedly.

Peatfield, leader of the Labour-led authority, said: "We've always been clear that the A38 was a national government project as is the decision to carry out further consultation.

"We recognise that this project remains divisive in Derby.

"On the one hand, national traffic needs to flow through Derby and not hinder local traffic, growth and new housing.

"On the other hand, it may be the only plan but is it the right plan for today, 25 years on? There are climate and biodiversity ramifications plus a lack of public transport and active travel considerations.

"We agree that it's time for the public to have another say. It has been 25 years since the original consultation, and there have been significant changes during that time.

"It is therefore right that residents have the chance to have their views heard again."

Adrian Howlett, from the Stop the A38 expansion group, said he felt "mixed" but "really not surprised".

"By the government's own numbers, the cost of this scheme had spiralled to £600m," he said.

Howlett said the group was "disappointed" that there had been no announcement that other options would be explored, and described the current scheme as "completely outdated".

He added: "Let's actually get some investment into Derby that isn't just a massive roads-dependent scheme and actually looks at all the options."

Claire Ward, Labour East Midlands mayor described yesterday's decision as "unacceptable", with the A46 Newark Bypass scheme in Nottinghamshire also shelved.

Peatfield added that losing this level of infrastucture investment across the East Midlands would be "a huge blow to our growth plans", adding that "the government must balance the nation's defence needs with the needs of the city that provides that defence".

The A38 scheme was part of the Department for Transport's (DfT) £27bn road investment strategy for highways improvements across England.

Transport funding in the East Midlands is particularly low and has faced decades of underinvestment.

In 2023–24, transport spending in the East Midlands was 54% of the UK average, the lowest level of any UK region or nation.

A "Defence Investment Plan Funding explainer", externally published by the government outlines that £700m will be saved from the Department of Transport from its roads funding.

"The department will consult on reductions to the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) - including the potential cancellation of the A38 Derby Junctions and A46 Newark Bypass schemes, both of which are yet to enter contract and not as far along as other road schemes," it said.

"There will be stakeholder consultations before any final decision is taken."

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