Labour cuts its own 'red tape' on A47 scheme

Ministers have approved a longstanding road scheme, which they had themselves delayed, once again describing the move as part of Labour’s ‘Plan for Change’.

The Department for Transport said the A47/A11 Thickthorn Junction scheme, which is set to cost ‘over £200m', is 'an example of an infrastructure project which has been delayed by over a year due to expensive legal challenges which have been dismissed by the courts as having no logical basis’.

It  described approval for the scheme as ‘an important milestone for this pro-growth and pro-infrastructure government, cutting the red tape which has for too long held up vital schemes and cost the taxpayer millions as part of the Plan for Change’.

In fact, all legal challenges to the scheme ended in May last year but the new Government announced in July 2024 that it was part of its own Transport Infrastructure Review.

After her government lifted its own block on the scheme, which was first announced in the 2015-20 Road Investment Strategy, future of roads minister Lilian Greenwood said: ‘This scheme is finally getting to go-ahead (sic) it deserves, after years of expensive legal blocks, as we are now able to unlock this vital scheme that Norwich has waited long for.

‘To help deliver our Plan for Change, we’re investing in more vital road schemes such as this over £200m funding for Norwich, and the recently announced £90m for other schemes across England, to renew our national infrastructure, speed up journeys and revive economic growth.’

The ‘£90m for other schemes’ is a reference to approval for four more longstanding schemes under the previous government’s National Roads Fund, which ministers also co-opted into Labour's Plan for Change.

Nicola Bell, executive director of major projects at National Highways, said: ‘Getting the green light to improve the junction at Thickthorn is great news for local people and those who regularly work or travel in and around Norwich.

‘This will help support economic growth in the area, significantly reduce congestion, improve journey times, and make the road safer.’