Travel Management on the A3 & Delay on Junction 10

Interesting times for future of the A3

Improvements to the A3, in the borough, appear, with a few exceptions, to be either being delivered late or have been moved off the planning horizon. 

Highways England have been quiet on the options, but do appear to be considering ideas for the A3.

The Enterprise M3 LEP in their recent report ‘Revive and Review’ on the economic challenges for the area post Covid at Page 45 have a paragraph including a A3 comment underlined.

Highways England continue to design major capacity and safety enhancements such as at Junction 9 on M3 near Winchester, to ensure that the route between the south coast ports and the Midlands has sufficient capacity to support both the local and national economy. They are also developing proposals along the A3 at Guildford as to how they can use travel demand management measures to seek to drive travel behaviour change and thereby contribute to improving air quality in and around Guildford and help to address the significant congestion problems that inhibit the local economy.

Does the above indicates Guildford might be the subject to a radical transport experiment?

Angela Richardson MP has highlighted on Facebook that she has a commitment from Highways England to review the provision of a Tunnel from Burpham to Compton.  This is similar to the scheme proposed in the GBC Infrastructure strategy in 2016.

The A3 integral to the Local Plan

The Local Plan was built around the A3 issues being solved thus providing the ability to build more houses.

The Local Plan Identified key schemes that are being considered for the A3, we have updated the current status as far as it is known.

The Treasury are tightening purse strings?

The BBC are reporting 7^th May that Road and Rail building plans are under review post Covid.  The Treasury are asking for schemes to justified as decreases in traffic are making roads operate more freely at peak periods, and environmental pressures are increasing to reduce pollution. New roads, even if used by electric cars, would still take decades before they become carbon neutral, because of all the emissions produced in their construction.

Impact on the Local Plan

Policy ID2 within the Plan states - “ In the event that there is a material delay in the anticipated completion and or a reduction in scope of the A3 Guildford (A320 Stoke interchange junction to A31 Hog’s Back junction) “Road Investment Strategy” scheme from that assumed in plan-making, or cancellation of the scheme, Guildford Borough Council will review its transport evidence base to investigate the consequent cumulative impacts of approved developments and Local Plan growth including site allocations on the safe operation and the performance of the Local Road Networks and the Strategic Road Network. In the case of material delay in the anticipated completion and or a reduction in scope in the A3 Guildford scheme, the review will consider the period up to the revised date of completion of the scheme. --- The outcome of this review will determine whether development can continue to be completed in accordance with the Local Plan trajectory or will determine whether there needs to be a review of the Local Plan.”

This policy and potential review does not necessarily mean a Local Plan site becomes undeliverable.  It is important that Highways England’s plans are made clear so that the impact on the local Plan can be considered.

Yet more delay to Junction 10 M25/A3 improvements.

This is 6-month extension is to allow for further consideration of environmental matters, and provides the new deadline of 12 November 2021.

Further information regarding the additional consultation will be posted on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.