Council approves extra £4m for A12 road scheme
Suffolk County Council's cabinet has approved an extra £4 million to complete the business case for a major A12 upgrade, ahead of a Government submission in September.
Why it matters: The Major Road Network (MRN) scheme is designed to tackle congestion along the A12, provide space for future growth and improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. Councillor Christopher Hudson, the council's lead for transport and highways, said improving the road was an "absolute primacy".
"Building resilience into our highway structure is an absolute primacy – we want people to be able to travel properly and, more importantly, safely," he said. "It's their lives indirectly and directly in our hands, and therefore it could not be more important."
The details: Construction costs have pushed the project's price tag to £63.6 million, up from the £57.4 million estimated when it received the authority's approval in 2021.
The Department for Transport has confirmed it would pick up just over £54 million of the bill, subject to a sound business case, with the council paying another £3.5 million. A further £6 million would come from third-party contributions.
Roughly half of the £4 million agreed on Tuesday, 14 July, will be paid from ring-fenced funding, with the rest coming from a Government grant designed for transport enhancement and maintenance.
Nicola Sebastian
Acquiring the land: Cabinet members have also agreed to authorise compulsory purchase orders – legal powers allowing the council to buy land without the owner's consent. Cllr Hudson did not reveal how many landowners could be impacted by the orders, but said they would be used as a "last resort".
What's included: The scheme covers improvements to several junctions, including at Seven Hills, Barrack Square and Anson Road, as well as a new dual carriageway section between Seckford Hall Road and Grundisburgh roundabout.
A new footbridge over the A12 at Martlesham is also proposed, replacing the existing structure built in the 1970s, which no longer meets modern standards.
What's next: With the extra funding secured, the council will now complete a business case through the summer, ahead of submission to the Government by September.
The bottom line: Suffolk County Council has committed the extra £4 million needed to finalise its case for a £63.6 million A12 upgrade – but the use of compulsory purchase powers means some landowners could yet be forced to give up their land for the scheme.
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