£100m M27 scheme at risk

22/02/2024 | STEVE MENARY

A proposal to revamp junction 10 of the M27 in Hampshire to support the Welborne Garden Village development is under threat due to escalating costs.

VolkerFitzpatrick was appointed as a contractor in October 2022, when consultant Ramboll was also recruited. Work to finalise the design and construction was scheduled to begin at the end of 2023. At this time, the cost was officially in the region of £81m.

Hampshire County Council is the main client and delivering the scheme with Fareham Borough Council. In March 2022, Homes England agreed to provide £41.25m towards the cost and what was then described as 'the remaining £40m’ was due to be provided by the developers at Welborne Garden Village.

Work did not start as anticipated and the cost was put at £97.5m by last December, when a revised target price was sought from VolkerFitzpatrick.

A letter was sent by Hampshire County Council to stakeholders outlining the need for extra funding so that HCC could take the project to the construction stage.

If extra funding is needed and not provided, the project would be dropped, the report said.

Cllr Hants CC leader Rob Humby cautioned: 'An increase in the cost of construction materials generally is expected to have an impact on the cost of the project although we won’t know the full impact until we receive the revised target price from the contractor for review, which is expected in early 2024.'

At a council cabinet meeting on December 12, Tim Lawton, HCC’s assistant director of highways and transport, told members that National Highways and the Department of Transport were unlikely to provide further funding as the project would provide 'very little benefit to the strategic road network'.

That leaves Homes England, which said it was 'aware of potential cost issues' but would not comment further.

VolkerFitzpatrick and Fareham councils did not respond to a request for a comment about the status of the scheme and the cost review had not been completed by this week, when HCC told Highways: 'The contract is not being retendered. The cost review process has not yet been concluded.'

The scheme comprises an extension to the existing junction, which currently only allows drivers to join the M27 eastbound – towards Portsmouth – and leave it westbound.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Engineer, Highways Asset Maintenance CDC

Grade 9, £38,653 - £42,728
City of Doncaster employs around 4,300 staff, who work together with Team Doncaster partners Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: City Of Doncaster Council

Head of Fleet and Depot Services

Circa £80,000
It couldn’t be a better time to join Merton Council. Merton, London (Greater)
Recruiter: London Borough of Merton

Fleet Officer

£34,416 - £35,448
We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Fleet Officer to join our team. Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recruiter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Team Leader LGV Driver

£27,711 - £30,559, Grade 6, 37 hours, Permanent
An exciting opportunity exists in the Council’s Street Scene Services for a Team Leader LGV Driver Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Team Leader LGV Driver (Seasonal Post)

£20,783.25 - £22,919.25, Grade 6, 27.25 hours, Permanent
An exciting opportunity exists in the Council’s Street Scene Services for a Team Leader LGV Driver Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Network Manager

Grade 14, £56,385 to £60,592 per annum
Ready for your next big challenge in highways management? Isle of Wight
Recruiter: Isle of Wight Council

Transport Strategy Officer

Grade 12, £45,647 to £47,966 per annum
The council are looking for a Transport Strategy Officer who will play a leading role in what is both locally and nationally a very dynamic area. Isle of Wight
Recruiter: Isle of Wight Council

Traffic & Network Engineer

£31067 to £37937 Per annum
Traffic & Network Engineer Portsmouth
Recruiter: Portsmouth City Council

Highway Asset Officer (Design/Delivery)

£34,314 - £37,938 per annum
Are you passionate about making a difference in your community? Devon
Recruiter: Devon County Council

Trainee Sign Shop Technician

£25998 - £31469
Job TitleTrainee Sign Shop Tec... Wandsworth, London, UK
Recruiter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

Senior Highways Technician x 2 positions - WMF1684e

£33,366 - £34,314
We are looking for strong communicators, as you will provide advice and guidance to colleagues. Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Programme Control Officer - Capital Programmes - WMF1686e

£37,035 - £37,938
The Programme Control Officer role will mainly be focussed on managing and controlling a wide variety of programme delivery information. Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Highways Officer - South

G7
Lincolnshire County Council
Recruiter: Lincolnshire County Council

Assistant Highways Officer - South

£26,409 - £29,093
Lincolnshire County Council would like to know how you feel about potholes! Lincolnshire / South
Recruiter: Lincolnshire County Council

Assistant Highways Officer - West

£26,409 - £29,093
Lincolnshire County Council would like to know how you feel about potholes! Lincolnshire / West
Recruiter: Lincolnshire County Council

Assistant Highways Officer - North

£26,409 - £29,093
Lincolnshire County Council would like to know how you feel about potholes! Lincolnshire / North
Recruiter: Lincolnshire County Council

Assistant Highways Officer - East

£26,409 - £29,093
Lincolnshire County Council would like to know how you feel about potholes! Lincolnshire / East
Recruiter: Lincolnshire County Council

Structures Assistant Engineer

£34,314 to £37,938 p.a. Grade 9
Highways Services at Durham County Council are responsible for the maintenance of the Highway Infrastructure across County Durham, including approxima Durham
Recruiter: Durham County Council

Senior Engineer (Consultancy)

£43,693 - £50,788
e are seeking a positive, experienced, enthusiastic, talented, and driven professional who cares about the development of our great city Coventry, West Midlands
Recruiter: Coventry City Council

Senior Development Management Engineer

£37,938 - £44,711
We are seeking a positive, experienced, enthusiastic, talented, and driven professional who cares about the development of our great city Coventry, West Midlands
Recruiter: Coventry City Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW