Labour co-opts MRN schemes into 'Plan for Change'

12/02/2025 | CHRIS AMES

Labour co-opts MRN schemes into 'Plan for Change'

The Labour Government has approved four long-standing local authority road schemes from the previous administration's National Roads Fund, stating that they are part of its ‘Plan for Change’.

The Department for Transport (DfT) is contributing a total of £90m for the four schemes, which also featured in the previous Conservative government's widely-ridiculed ‘Network North’ plan to supposedly redirect cash from the cancelled Phase Two of HS2.

Despite this, officials said that the announcement is ‘part of the government’s Plan for Change to renew infrastructure and raise living standards across the UK’.

The four schemes are:

  • A350 Chippenham Bypass phases 4 and 5 in Wiltshire
  • A647 Dawsons Corner and Stanningley Bypass in Leeds
  • South East Aylesbury Link Road (SEALR) in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
  • A127/A130 Fairglen Interchange in Essex

All four of these schemes that the DfT claimed to have been approved under its ‘Plan for Change’ were listed under the Network North pledge.

Future of roads minister Lilian Greenwood said: ‘The UK’s roads are the backbone of a growing economy, which is why we’re giving these vital schemes the go ahead, helping deliver our Plan for Change.

‘Economic growth has been stunted for too long, so we’re giving the green light and investing in vital schemes to help people get from A to B more easily however they choose to travel.’

The DfT said the A350 Chippenham Bypass is ‘one of the most important routes connecting the South West with the Midlands and South East’. It is expected to see journey times reduced by up to a quarter, with two sections of the road to be dualled and improvements made to the roundabout.

It added that the area around the A647 Dawsons Corner and Stanningley Bypass in Leeds has seen traffic levels worsen over the years, impacting bus services in particular. 

‘The replacement of the roundabout and structural renewal of the bypass is expected to increase the number of bus passengers, speeding up traffic for all modes of road transport.’

Government officials said that upgrades to the SEALR scheme will reduce air pollution in Aylesbury town centre, link up new developments in the area and create more walking and cycling options, with a new 1.2km two-lane dual carriageway link road.

The A127/A130 Fairglen Interchange scheme, which Ms Greenwood visited, will see enhancements to the interchange and surrounding roundabouts.

Essex County Council said the DfT contribution of £15m is in addition to the £38m it is spending on the junction and £6.2m from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership. 

In October 2023, following the cancellation of HS2 phase 2, the Conservative Government said it was increasing funding for most existing Major Road Network (MRN) and Large Local Major (LLM) road schemes, which, subject to successful business case approval, will benefit from an uplift in government contribution from 85% to 100% of their costs at the outline business case stage.

It said: ‘The increased funding will help ensure the delivery of these road schemes.’

Under the Conservative Government, MRN and LLM schemes were part of a National Roads Fund, which also covered National Highways’ 2020-25 budget, funded by a theoretical hypothecation of Vehicle Excise duty from 2020 to 2025.

Despite this, the majority of the 70 schemes in the Network North announcement remain unfunded despite the fact the plan included from the very beginning schemes already underway or where funding was expected.

To continue a theme, the current transport secretary visited the West Midlands on Thursday ‘to begin work’ on a £295m West Midlands Metro extension, her department said.

This is despite the first (Wednesbury to Dudley town centre) phase of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill extension actually being 'already well underway and due to open to passengers in Autumn of this year’, as the Department for Transport confirmed.

Image shows Ms Greenwood with Tom Cunningham, cabinet member for Highways, infrastructure and sustainable transport at Essex CC

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Senior Civil Engineer - Major Projects x 4

£45,894.00 - £54,952.00
We are looking for experienced engineers to help us progress a number of key projects and programmes Glasgow, Glasgow City
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Technician - Maintenance

£31001.0000 - £36471.0000 per annum
Essex Highways is responsible for managing and maintaining one of the largest highway networks in the country
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Highways Contract Engineer

£46,731 - £49,764
The team helps provide a safe road network that operates efficiently and effectively.  Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Principal Transport Planner

£46,731 - £49,764 (pro-rata)
We are looking for an experienced professional to join us on a six-month temporary contact as a Principal Transport Planner. Kettering, Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Maintenance Operative

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Highways Maintenance Operative Broughton, Brigg
Recruiter: Amey

Head of Highways Contracts & Network

£81,803 progressing to £90,664 per annum
The team includes approximately 60 directly employed HCC people Hertfordshire
Recruiter: Hertfordshire County Council

Principal Construction Manager

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Principal Construction Manager Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Quality Technician

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Quality Technician Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)

£42679.0000 - £50211.0000 per annum
Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)Permanent, Full Time£43,960 to £51,718 per annum*Location
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Project Manager (Major Projects)

£44,711 - £47,754
Are you an experienced project professional or engineer with looking to take the next step in your career? Halifax, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

Senior Civil Engineer - Roads

£45,894 - £54,952
Are you an experienced engineer looking to support the Scottish Government’s national objectives. Scotland
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Project Team Manager

£55,147 to £60,676 per annum
We are pleased to be able to offer an opportunity for a role as Design Team Manager Norwich, Norfolk
Recruiter: Norfolk County Council

Clerk of Works

GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Assistant Projects Engineer

GRADE 06 (£29,093 - £32,654),GRADE 07 (£33,366 - £37,035), GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Principal Engineer - Traffic Management

£45,718 - £48,710 per annum
At Bath & North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose – to improve people’s lives. Bath, Somerset
Recruiter: Bath & North East Somerset Council

Vehicle Technician - Improver

£28,624 - £30,060
Transport Services is responsible for all aspects of transport and related services Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Programme Delivery Office Administrator

Grade 9 £31,344 - £33,253 per annum
At Derbyshire, we have been on a journey to transform the way we deliver highway services to make them fit for the future Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Support Officer - Highways Asset Management Systems

£31,586 - £34,314
We are a forward-thinking organisation dedicated to maintaining and improving our highway infrastructure. Lincolnshire
Recruiter: Lincolnshire County Council

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy)

£46,731-£49,764
We are looking for an experienced professional to join North Northamptonshire Council as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy). Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road, Kettering moving to Haylock House, Kettering Parkway, Kettering NN15 6EY, United Kingdom
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Electrical Engineer

Grade 9 £34,314 to £37,938 - Grade 10 £37,035 to £40,476 - Grade 11 £39,513 to £43,693 - Grade 12 £42,708 to £46,731 p.a.
The Construction Consultancy Services (CCS) team provide client-side construction consultancy services across a range of professional disciplines to d Durham
Recruiter: Durham County 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