Bats come back to haunt Norfolk as £274m scheme is shelved

21/01/2025 | CHRIS AMES

Bats come back to haunt Norfolk as  £274m scheme is shelved

Norfolk County Council has shelved its £274m Norwich Western Link scheme after advice from Natural England about its impact on bats forced the authority to withdraw its planning application.

In a statement, Graham Plant, cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure described the scheme as ‘a priority infrastructure project for the council’ but said the highway authority had ‘made the difficult decision to withdraw the current planning application and prioritise discussions with the Department for Transport (DfT) on the way forward for the project’.

Cllr Plant recalled that last March, ‘days before our planning application was due to be submitted, it became clear that Natural England's position had changed and we had a significant impediment to delivering the proposed Norwich Western Link’.

This is a reference to new Natural England guidance that barbastelle bats, which would be affected by the scheme, are not seen to be thriving and should not be disturbed.

At that time, council leader Kay Mason Billig said the change would make it almost impossible for the council to be granted a licence for the scheme, without which it could not be built.

Cllr Plant said that since then ‘our serious efforts to find a solution have unfortunately not provided a way forward’.

He added that responses in December from Natural England and Defra, the Government department that sponsors it, did not 'help to resolve the issue that is preventing us from progressing this important infrastructure project’.

‘I can reassure you that the Norwich Western Link remains a priority project for this council. We hope to have discussions with DfT shortly to agree the way forward and reach a good outcome. Until we've spoken to DfT and reached agreement, we do not want to pre-judge that outcome but our priority remains helping the traffic-blighted communities and improving travel and road safety to the west of Norwich,’ he said.

With the council at risk of having to repay central government funding for the failed scheme, Cllr Plant added: ‘Discussions with DfT will also inform how we deal with the finances on the project and, again, our aim will be to reach a good outcome for Norfolk on this.

‘It's important to remember though that we were able to demonstrate the great need to improve travel to the west of Norwich through the two business cases that were submitted to DfT in the process so far, both of which they approved.’

Chris Todd, director of Transport Action Network, said: ‘The council was warned about the existence of internationally important bat roosts many years ago, but carried on regardless. This issue has finally come back to haunt it and effectively killed the scheme off. The council now needs to focus on measures that will reduce traffic, whilst preserving important natural habitats.’

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