National Highways celebrates High Court Stonehenge scheme win

National Highways has won a legal judgement in the High Court over the transport secretary's decision to grant the development consent order (DCO) for the A303 Stonehenge scheme.

The scheme proposals were granted consent last year following a lengthy redetermination process, and have now overcome a second legal challenge, although one environmental ground is yet to be determined.

David Bullock, the A303 Stonehenge project director, said: 'We welcome the decision, it’s a huge step forward in tackling the long-standing issues of the A303 at Stonehenge and it represents years of working with our stakeholders, heritage bodies and local communities.'

The A303 upgrade at the World Heritage Site will build a new dual carriageway below ground, removing the sight and sound of traffic from the Stonehenge landscape. It also aims to tackle congestion on the nine-mile single carriageway section of the arterial A303 route.

While the final decision on environmental issues is determined, National Highways said it will 'continue to prepare for archaeological fieldwork, civils and utilities work ahead of main construction'.