Roads: Suffolk

(asked on 27th October 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of improving roads in Suffolk to support the proposed increase in energy infrastructure.


Answered by
Trudy Harrison Portrait
Trudy Harrison
This question was answered on 2nd November 2021

The A12 north of Ipswich is the responsibility of Suffolk County Council as the local highway authority. It is for them, working with Transport East as the relevant sub-national transport body, to consider the opportunities and options for enhancing the A12 and other transport provision in this area to meet the demands of local people, businesses and energy infrastructure.

The Suffolk Energy Gateway Project proposed by Suffolk in 2016 (also known as the Four Villages Bypass) did not provide sufficient value for money and the level of investment from industry and the Council was too low to secure government funding. It is for Suffolk, working with Transport East, to develop a revised proposal and bid again when the opportunity arises, but this would have to represent better value for money and include a larger financial contribution from the Council and industry stakeholders.

The examination of the application for development consent for the proposed Sizewell C nuclear power station closed on 14 October 2021 and the Examining Authority is now writing its report which will set out its conclusions and recommendations on the proposals. The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is due to receive the Examining Authority’s report by 14 January 2022.

As is the case for all applications for development consent, the Secretary of State for BEIS will consider all matters that are relevant when taking his decision on the project. This includes an assessment of potential impacts on roads during construction and operation and where necessary the applicant will need to provide mitigation measures which may include road improvements. Given the quasi-judicial role of the Secretary of State for BEIS in determining the application, it would be inappropriate to comment on specific matters regarding the proposed project, as this could be seen as prejudicing the decision-making process.

The Department and National Highways is examining the case for retrunking the A12 between Ipswich and Lowestoft with Suffolk County Council and Transport East as part of a wider strategic review of the road. Evidence gathered through this review will inform ministerial decisions about whether to progress work further.

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