Department for Transport written question – answered at on 6 January 2026.
Priti Patel
Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the changes in costs for the A12 widening scheme following the decision taken by the Secretary of State to pause that scheme in July 2024.
Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The A12 scheme was deferred by the previous Government, adding to the overall cost of the scheme as set out in the table below.
Date | Estimated outturn cost | Source |
December 2014 | Expected cost category £100m–£250m | Published list of RIS1 schemes and cost bands https://www.ciht.org.uk/media/4382/roads-investment-strategy-summary-of-schemes.pdf |
March 2016 | Funding envelope of £750 million | Published Options Appraisal Report: A12 Chelmsford to A120 Options Assessment Report OAR.pdf |
September 2022 | £1,045-1,268 million | Published Funding Statement for Development Consent Order: Microsoft Word - TR010020_APP_1.1 - Introduction to the Application |
In July 2025, following the conclusion of the Spending Review, the Government took the difficult decision not to proceed with the A12 scheme, to provide certainty for the public.
Yes2 people think so
No0 people think not
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