Written Question·Department for Transport·UIN 66157

A12: Repairs and Maintenance

Tabled: 9 July 2025
Answered: 17 July 2025

Question

Priti Patel

ConservativeWitham

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she made an assessment of the potential impact of cancelling the A12 Widening Scheme on housing growth.

Answer

Lilian Greenwood

As announced on 8 July 2025, this Government inherited a series of commitments that could not be afforded. Therefore, the Secretary of State for Transport had to take the difficult decision not to progress the A12 (Chelmsford to A120) Widening Scheme. The decision was based on evidence assessed against a wide range of criteria, including housing growth impacts, and in line with the HMT Treasury Green Book and the Department’s Transport Analysis Guidance. The Department will continue to work with National Highways and relevant partners to explore whether there are any small-scale interventions to potentially address issues on the A12 to support housing growth.