M1-A6 link gets £33m Govt cash after council battle subsides

20/10/2021 | CHRIS AMES

Ministers have released £33m of Local Growth Fund cash for a new road linking the M1 near Luton to the A6.

The project, which is led by Central Bedfordshire Council and South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP), involves a new 2.75-mile road link between Junction 11a of the M1 and the A6, forming a north-western bypass for Luton’.

The Department for Transport (DfT) incorrectly said that the road will link the M11 to the A6, which was widely reported.

In July 2019 SEMLEP said it had set aside £32.75m of Local Growth Funding for the scheme, then estimated to cost £64.6m, and that final funding approval was expected from the DfT in February 2020, subject to their appraisal and approval of the full business case.

The council’s webpage for the scheme indicates that a funding decision was needed in time for the scheme to commence from August 2021.

However, last year Luton Borough Council unsuccessfully sought a judicial review of Central Bedfordshire’s approval of the scheme. The full business case was not submitted until June 2021.

The DfT said construction is due to begin in January 2022 and be completed by January 2024.

Roads minister Baroness Vere said: ‘Residents in Bedfordshire deserve quicker and easier journeys and I know many have been frustrated by poor east-west connections north of Luton.

‘That’s why I’m pleased to be backing the new link road, which will support the construction of new homes and jobs, drastically improve accessibility and make the area more attractive to new business.’

Executive member for planning and regeneration at Central Bedfordshire Council, Kevin Collins, said: ‘The funding provides us with a welcome opportunity to improve connectivity between towns in Central Bedfordshire, especially east-west linkages, whilst also easing congestion in the villages and areas north of Luton.

‘It will also facilitate the delivery of growth envisaged in our adopted local plan and will provide homes, jobs and necessary supporting infrastructure for Central Bedfordshire and the wider area.’

The total cost of the scheme comes to £60.25m with a contribution of £32.75m local growth funding with the remainder coming from local private developer contributions secured by the council. As a DfT retained scheme, the funding was subject to ministerial sign off.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Senior Parking Officer

£38934 - £40755 per annum + n/a
Senior Parking Officer (Business Team) About Us Our Greenwich Plan sets out our vision for the next 4 years focusing on the changes we collectively wa England, London, Woolwich
Recruiter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Parking Design Engineer

£34416 - £44331 per annum
Parking Design Engineer (Career Graded SC6-PO2) About Us Our Greenwich Plan sets out our vision for the next 4 years focusing on the changes we colle England, London, Woolwich
Recruiter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Development Engineer

£35,967 - £41,268 per annum
Bexley is an outer London Borough with the best of both worlds. Bexley (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recruiter: London Borough of Bexley

Head of Highways Services

Level 14
North Somerset Council
Recruiter: North Somerset Council

Principal Transportation & Infrastructure Planner

£54889.0000 - £64576.0000 per annum + Flexible Working, Hybrid Working
The Opportunity The Principal Transportation and Infrastructure Planner engages with strategic partners, to devise and co-ordinate land use transpo England, Essex, Chelmsford
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Mechanic (LCV/LGV) x2

£33,366 – £35,235
We are seeking a suitably qualified and experienced, LCV/LGV Mechanic Accrington, Lancashire
Recruiter: Hyndburn Borough Council

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

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
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