Derbyshire County Council in call to Government to rethink A38 junctions cancellation

Economic growth, new homes and jobs across Derbyshire could be put at risk if the Government drops planned improvements to three major A38 junctions, Derbyshire County Council has warned.

The county council is urging ministers to reconsider proposals to remove the A38 Derby Junctions scheme from the national road investment programme.

The scheme would upgrade the heavily congested Kingsway, Markeaton and Little Eaton junctions, where local journeys and long-distance traffic converge, causing regular delays and unreliable journey times.

A spokesperson for the authority The county council says that cancellation without a credible, fully funded alternative would leave longstanding transport pressures unresolved and could constrain planned development, business growth and future investment.

Derbyshire County Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Leadership, Councillor Alan Graves, said: “The Government should think again. Scrapping this scheme would not make the congestion, delays or economic consequences disappear. This is about far more than traffic. Reliable transport links are essential for businesses, access to jobs, new housing and our ability to attract investment to Derbyshire and the wider region.

“People who use this route know the daily frustration at Kingsway, Markeaton and Little Eaton. The same delays impose costs on businesses, employees and freight operators, weakening the connections on which our economy depends.

“Considerable time and public money have already been invested in developing the scheme. Walking away now, without a funded replacement, would leave the underlying problems untouched.”

The A38 is a strategic route connecting Birmingham, Derby and the M1, carrying residents, commuters, businesses and freight through Derbyshire and across the wider region.

The planned improvements are intended to reduce congestion, improve safety and make journey times more reliable, while supporting housing delivery and better access to jobs, businesses and investment opportunities in Derby and surrounding areas.

Councillor Graves added: “If ministers decide not to proceed, they must set out a credible alternative that is properly funded and capable of improving journeys, enabling planned development and supporting economic growth.

“We will continue to press Derbyshire’s case and work with government and regional partners to secure a realistic way forward. Doing nothing is not an option.”