County Council set to take on its biggest ever transport scheme

Hampshire County Council’s Cabinet has agreed to lead the delivery of the M27 junction 10 improvement scheme, subject to funding agreements.

The scheme will include the complex construction of an ‘all moves’ junction on the M27 involving a new motorway underpass and three new slip roads to help bring forward the development of Welborne Garden Village in North Fareham.

The agreement is subject to Homes England committing funding, Highways England signing a Memorandum of Understanding and the successful appointment of a design and build contractor with the right expertise and experience in schemes of this scale.

Councillor Rob Humby, the County Council’s Deputy Leader and Executive Lead Member of Economy, Transport and the Environment, said: “We have always supported the plans for development of a new Garden Village at Welborne, appreciating that it in addition to providing much needed homes, it will boost the local economy, providing commercial floorspace and creating jobs.

“This will be the biggest transport scheme that we have ever delivered and we do not underestimate the magnitude of the task. As Highway Authority for the local road network, our transport planners and engineers successfully manage the development and delivery of large transport projects on our own network all the time. However, managing such a technically complicated and demanding project on the Highways England network is infinitely more challenging, with greater risks.”

Progress has been made already in developing the design and securing appropriate approvals from Highways England. However, the County Council was not previously in a position to consider taking on delivery of the scheme — in the region of £81 million — until it could be assured that all financial risks would be fully underwritten. Recent indications are that sufficient funding has now been identified.

Before work can begin, planning consent must be secured for the wider development, which includes the junction. It is anticipated that construction of the new junction would begin in 2023.

Fareham Borough Council has welcomed the decision and will now consider the revised application on Friday 23rd July.