A38 campaigners hit out at ‘blockers’ statement

Campaigners against the huge A38 upgrades have hit out after the Government suggested “blockers” delayed the project.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is exploring ways in which major road infrastructure schemes can be “completed more quickly” following “lengthy legal challenges”.

A statement issued by the Treasury pointed to the A38 scheme in Derby as an example of “lengthy” judicial reviews leaving it “in limbo, stunting economic growth and taking up thousands of court working days”.

But campaigners against the project, set to cost hundreds of millions of pounds, claim the Government itself is at fault and have previously lost a legal battle surrounding the project.

They also argue the go-ahead is still subject to a business case, which the Government itself is in control of. 

The huge project, which was given approval in July, is set to involve building flyovers, underpasses, and new roundabouts at Markeaton, Kingsway, and Little Eaton. It has also been proposed to widen the road from a total of four lanes (two either side) to six (three either side).

It is hoped the project “will shave up to nine minutes off journeys” and support Derby’s plans for local housing and employment developments, including over 15,400 houses.

Initially it was estimated the project was going to cost around £250 million but that was several years ago. Details of how much the scheme will cost in total now have not been provided yet.

This is because the Government says “a fair procurement process needs to take place first”. But it was reported recently that it could cost significantly more.

This latest statement comes just days after a Derby MP informed residents that work would not be able to start until a few years’ time.

According to Derby North MP Catherine Atkinson, who joined fellow city MP Baggy Shanker in a meeting with the project management team, further information about the project will be available next summer.

In a statement which starts with “back the builders not the blockers”, Chancellor Reeves said: “The previous government sided with the blockers, who held our economy to ransom for too long, abusing the lengthy judicial review process to delay critical national infrastructure projects and holding back economic growth.

“Our planning reforms are set to benefit the economy by up to £7.5 billion over the next ten years, so whether through reducing the length of the judicial review process, tearing up burdensome regulations, or streamlining planning permissions with AI, we want to go further still by backing the builders not the blockers and deliver national renewal by getting Britain building.”

But the Stop The A38 Expansion campaign group has hit out at the Chancellor’s words, accusing leaders of using “distracting” tactics to shift away from anticipated tax rises.  

Tricia Howlett, a Derby resident and spokesperson for the campaign group said: “The Government’s ‘builders not blockers’ spin is a desperate attempt to distract from tax rises and its ongoing economic and governance failures as it panders to corporate interests. 

“The Government has recently blocked rail schemes that would have created jobs, improved connectivity and journey times, and reduced emissions.

“It tries to scapegoat legal challenges for their failures and deliberately omits that the A38 was found unlawful in a 2021 legal challenge, by failing to assess the cumulative carbon impacts of the scheme. That delay was caused by the Government itself pushing through an unlawful project.”

Ms Howlett added: “This full business case is reportedly not due until after June 2026, yet the Government has already approved the scheme in the Spending Review and is refusing to release the cost information behind that decision.

“Despite this, ministers continue to present the A38 as confirmed, when the full economic case and final investment decision do not yet exist.”