Notice of Consultation

Highways England
Notice of Consultation
A12 Chelmsford to A120 widening scheme
Section 47 Planning Act 2008 Notice Publicising a Statement of Community Consultation
Highways England is planning to widen the A12 from junction 19 Boreham Interchange to junction 25 A120 Marks Tey, which includes the following proposals:
* creation of two bypasses, one between junctions 22 to 23 and another between junctions 24 to J25

* widening of the dual carriageway from two to three lanes in each direction from Hatfield Peverel to Marks Tey

* improvements to junctions 19 and 25

* construction of new junctions 21,22 and 24 providing access to the A12 both northbound and southbound

* removal of existing junctions 20a, 20b and 23

* provide new and improve existing walking, cycling and horse riding routes

* provide new local roads access and improve existing access to the proposed junctions

* provide environmental mitigation

* improve the safety performance of the road especially at the junctions and slip roads

* provide utility diversions where necessary

* remove all direct private access onto the A12 and redirect access via local roads and junctions

* temporary construction areas and access roads, together with works to secure vehicular and/or pedestrian means of access including the creation of new tracks, footpaths, and/ or widening, upgrades, creation of bell mouths, creation of temporary slip roads and Improvements to existing tracks, footpaths and roads

* permanent and/or temporary compulsory acquisition (if required) of land and/or rights for the scheme

* overriding easements and other rights over or affecting land for the scheme

* the application and/or disapplication of legislation relevant to the scheme Including, amongst others, legislation relating to compulsory purchase

* such ancillary, incidental and consequential provisions, permits or consents as necessary and/or convenient.

The proposed scheme includes changes to a number of existing utilities. These changes include the diversion of two high pressure gas pipelines operated by Cadent Gas Limited. The first high pressure gas pipeline is located between Springfield in Chelmsford and Little Braxted running along the southern side of the A12 within the local authority areas of Chelmsford and Braintree. The second is located between the Witham Bypass and Little Braxted running along the south of the A12 also in the local authority area of Braintree (the Diversions). To the extent that the Diversions satisfy the criteria to be considered an NSIP under section 20 of the Planning Act 2008, the Diversions will be treated as NSIPs in their own right. Even though the Diversions may be treated as NSIPs in their own right, as they are part of the proposed scheme they will form part of the application for development consent which will be made by Highways England to the Secretary of State for Transport. To the extent the Diversions are an NSIP in their own right they would also be considered against the relevant energy National Policy Statements within the application. We intend to make an application to the Planning Inspectorate under Section 37 of the Planning Act 2008 for a Development Consent Order to authorise construction, operation and maintenance of the proposed scheme. Before making the application, we must produce a document called the Statement of Community Consultation setting out how we will consult the local community about our proposals. We must also make this statement available for inspection by the public and publish this notice stating where and when the statement can be inspected. We must then carry out consultation in accordance with the statement. This notice contains a summary of the consultation details. However, full details of the consultation can be found in the Statement of Community Consultation. This can be viewed online along with our consultation materials at

from 22 June 2021 until at least 16 August 2021.
Please also visit our website for details and confirmation of any public events that will be held during the consultation period should the Government COVID-19 restrictions allow. We will also publish on our website any pick-up locations where printed copies of the Statement of Community Consultation, brochure, response form and memory sticks with all the consultation materials can be collected, again provided this is possible in line with any Government COVID-19 restrictions. Please contact the project team via the contact details below to request a hard copy of the Statement of Community Consultation free of charge. Please note: Consultation materials will be available from the start of the consultation date on the website and at pick up locations subject to the government COVID road map, as detailed, not in advance. The proposed scheme is an Environmental Impact Assessment development, which means a Preliminary Environmental Information Report has been produced (to describe the environmental effects of the scheme) and is being consulted on alongside the other consultation documents. It also means that an Environmental Statement will be produced and submitted with the application in due course.
Contact the team on
Email:

Address: A12 Project Team, Highways England, Woodlands, Manton Lane, Bedford, MK41 7LW
Telephone: 0300 123 5000 (Monday to Friday 09.00 -17.00)
Registered office Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford GU1 4LZ
Highways England Company Limited registered in England and Wales number 09346363