Stonehenge tunnel plan officially scrapped - after £179,000,000 spent
Planning permission for a bypass tunnel at Stonehenge has been officially revoked after £179,000,000 was spent on the project.
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A development consent order (DCO) for a tunnel, two junctions and a northern bypass near the world heritage site has now formally been revoked by the Department for Transport (DfT).
The scheme was originally green lit in 2023 but was put on hold in 2024 after £179.2m was spent - after it emerged costs were expected to reach £1.4 billion.
Local Reform MP Danny Kruger has called the decision "scandalous".
Council member Martin Smith said: "This is a huge blow for Wiltshire, our communities and the wider South West region.
SWe are extremely disappointed that the government has decided to revoke the DCO for the A303 stonehenge tunnel.”
The DfT cited “exceptional circumstances.”
The DfT said the decision had been made by transport secretary Heidi Alexander and that it “no longer aligns with current strategic policy objectives”.
Scrapping the scheme would allow “alternative infrastructure or development proposals to come forward that better reflect current needs,” it said.
A DfT spokesperson said: “Given the challenging financial picture we inherited, we had to make difficult decisions about a number of road projects as they were unfunded or unaffordable.
"While the decision to cancel the scheme was made in 2024, we remain committed to investing in projects that deliver for the taxpayer and drive growth, which is why we are providing nearly £5 billion in this year alone on our motorways and key A-roads to support maintenance, enhancement, and ensure smoother journeys."