A66 Northern Trans-Pennine upgrade job gains development consent

Plans to upgrade the A66 route between Penrith and Scotch Corner have been given the go-ahead by the Secretary of State for Transport following his approval of the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project’s Development Consent Order (DCO) application.

The project – said to be the biggest single investment in the North’s road network in a generation – will help transform the remaining single carriageway sections along the 80km stretch of the A66 between Cumbria, County Durham and North Yorkshire. The improvements will reduce delays and queues during busy periods and improve the performance of key junctions such as the A66/A1 and the M6 junction 40.

Developed by National Highways, with support from consultancy Arup and infrastructure specialists Amey Consulting, the plans are anticipated to transform journeys in the North of England. The A66 provides the most direct route between the eastern side of England and western Scotland. It is a critical route for freight, providing links to a number of international ports like Stranraer, Hull, Teesport and Felixstowe and connects holiday makers to the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District.

Both a local and national route, planned improvements will shorten journey times and increase network resilience while reducing congestion and accidents through a renewed focus on safety for all road users and those nearby, including cyclists and pedestrians. The current A66 sees approximately 50% more casualties than the strategic road network average. Prioritising and promoting safe active travel, the creation of more than 30km of cycleway provision is a core project element.

The proposals reflect National Highways and Arup’s ambitions to bring sustainability to the fore of road infrastructure initiatives, delivering outcomes related to decarbonisation, biodiversity restoration and social value.

The project has taken a novel approach to environmental consenting and will deliver a 30% reduction of embodied carbon emissions in the specimen design. Greater than 10% biodiversity net gain (BNG) will be achieved for grassland, hedgerows and woodland, going beyond UK legislation that came into effect in February 2024. This approach contributes to the recovery of nature while developing a site and enhances its biodiversity. Expected construction duration has been reduced from ten to five years.

Now that the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project Development Consent Order (DCO) has been approved, National Highways says it can look ahead to the construction phase.

Stewart Jones, National Highways Project Director for the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project, said, “We are delighted to have received approval. A lot of hard work has gone into getting us to this position. Now we can push on and deliver this project as efficiently as possible.

“We will be part of community life for the next few years, so we want to make sure we are giving back. We will be using local companies and employment during our construction work, which will help support the local economy.

“We want to work with local schools, colleges, academies, universities and community groups, encouraging the engineers of the future to consider a career in construction and provide training opportunities.” 

Arup Project Director Andy Johnson added, “Arup is delighted to have helped National Highways secure planning consent for the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine upgrade. The project is so much more than a road upgrade. In addition to reduced journey times, improved safety and better connectivity, the A66 brings employment opportunities to the region, enhances active travel movements and delivers infrastructure sympathetic to this stunning landscape. The A66 will leave a positive legacy for generations of network users in the North of England.”

Martin Tugwell, Transport for the North’s Chief Executive said, “This is very welcome news that the people and businesses across Cumbria, Durham, North Yorkshire and the Tees Valley have been calling for over many years. TfN set out the strategic importance of this scheme at its Inquiry and it is good news to see the Secretary of State confirm the Order.

“Dualling the A66 will deliver vital improvements to east-west connectivity in the North. It will remove bottlenecks along this key corridor, make the road safer and more reliable for everyone who uses it, including the high percentage of freight using the route, and connect our towns and cities to Scotland.

“It will be one of the biggest investments in the North’s road network for a generation and we look forward to continuing to work with National Highways as they deliver this very important piece of national infrastructure.”