Decision details

a)    That the delivery of the works on the Bardon Link Road, which comprise setting out of the drainage pond and the construction of a short section of haul road, as illustrated on the drawing appended to the report, ahead of the scheme securing Full Business Case approval from the Department for Transport (DfT) be approved;

b)    That the latest position with regards to costs and timescales for the scheme be noted.

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The planning permission for the Bardon Link Road will lapse on 16 January 2026, unless construction works commence on site before this date. It was originally anticipated that the construction would commence in spring 2025 but the Early Contractor Involvement process, whilst providing significant benefits for the smooth delivery of the scheme, has delayed the start.

It would be necessary to submit a new, full planning application for the Bardon Link Road if the deadline to commence works was not met. This would incur significant additional cost and it would delay the overall programme by approximately one year while the new consent was sought, putting DfT funding at risk of being withdrawn.

The Cabinet’s approval is sought as these initial works would be delivered ahead of the Government formally confirming its commitment to fund the A511 Major Road Network (MRN) improvements (which is subject to the approval of a Full Business Case due to be submitted in February 2026). In a letter issued to Leaders of Local Authorities dated 8 July 2025, the Government reconfirmed its ‘in principle’ support of the project.