IoTA_Logo(2).png

Institute of Transport Administration

Educating Transport Management since 1944

News

Planning consent revoked for Stonehenge tunnel

19th Mar 2026

Industry urged to address ignorance on securing loads

19th Mar 2026

Truck park survey to gauge capacity and spaces demand

19th Mar 2026

Trial of Taunton bus priority scheme to begin 'imminently'

17th Mar 2026

NAO report underlines need for clear plan to deliver Northern Powerhouse Rail

17th Mar 2026

View all news »

Planning consent revoked for Stonehenge tunnel

19 Mar 2026

Planning consent has been formally revoked for the controversial road tunnel at Stonehenge, but only after millions had been spent on the cancelled project.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said "exceptional circumstances" had led it to revoke the development consent order (DCO) which would have included a tunnel, two junctions and a northern bypass in the vicinity of the world heritage site.

The A303 scheme was originally given planning permission in 2023, but was scrapped due to financial reasons in 2024, having already had £179.2m spent on it.

The DfT said the decision had been made by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander in light of the project's "exceptional circumstances", which it said includes "a substantial change in the scheme's deliverability" since the DCO was approved and that it "no longer aligns with current strategic policy objectives".

Further information:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7959v897n9o