SECTION 48 - PLANNING ACT 2008

SECTION 48 - PLANNING ACT 2008
REGULATION 4 INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING (APPLICATIONS: PRESCRIBED FORMS AND PROCEDURE) REGULATIONS 2009 A358 TAUNTON TO SOUTHFIELDS DUALLING SCHEME NOTICE PUBLICISING A PROPOSED APPLICATION FOR A DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER
Notice is hereby given that National Highways Limited ("National Highways") of Bridge House, Walnut Tree Close, Guildford GUI 4LZ intends to make an application ("the Application") to the Secretary of State for Transport under Section 37 of the Planning Act 2008 for a Development Consent Order (DCO).
The Application is for the proposed A358 Taunton to Southfields Dualling Scheme in Somerset.
The scheme's main proposals in summary are:
- Approximately 8.5 miles of new dual carriageway connecting junction 25 of the M5 at Taunton with the existing A303 at Southfields roundabout near llminster

- The section west of the proposed junction at Mattock's Tree Hill would be offline to the existing road corridor, while the section east of the junction would follow the existing corridor

- M5 junction 25 connection and improvements

- A new bridge to carry Stoke Road over the A358

- A new junction at Mattock's Tree Hill, connecting the A358 to the local road network

- An additional bridge at Griffin Lane would be built for the eastbound A358 carriageway

- A new bridge to carry Bickenhall Lane over the A358

- A new bridge to carry Village Road over the A358

- A new junction at Ashill, connecting to the local road network

- Southfields roundabout connection and improvements

- A new cycle route that would run from Henlade to the Southfields roundabout, making use of the local road network and new off-road routes

The scheme is an Environmental Impact Assessment development (EIA development), as defined by The Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. An Environmental Statement will be submitted as part of the Application. A Preliminary Environmental Information (PEI Report) forms part of the consultation material. Consultation on the proposals will take place from Tuesday 12 October to Monday 22 November 2021. Copies of the consultation materials -including documents, plans and maps showing the nature and location of the proposed development and the PEI Report - will be available for inspection free of charge from Tuesday 12 October to Monday 22 November 2021 at the following locations and times:

Locations with consultation documents
Location
Address
Opening times
Taunton
Somerset West and Taunton Council, Deane House, Belvedere Road, Taunton, Somerset TA1 1HE
8:30am-5pm Monday to Friday
llminster
llminster Library, Ditton Street, llminster TA19 0BW
9:30am-12pm Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, 9:30am-4:30pm Tuesday and Friday

Copies of the consultation materials will also be available online free of charge from Tuesday 12 October 2021 via 

by clicking on the consultation links on that website. Copies of the consultation materials may be requested during the consultation period from National Highways using the email address, postal address or telephone number provided below:
- Email:

- Phone: 0300 123 5000

- Post: FREEPOST A358 TAUNTON TO SOUTHFIELDS (the address must be written in capital letters and you do not need a stamp)

These contact details can also be used to contact National Highways for enquiries in relation to the consultation materials, including the documents, plans and maps.
Paper copies of the consultation booklet, feedback questionnaire, PEI Report Non-Technical Summary and Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC) will be supplied free of charge, however, there may be a charge of up to £200 for paper copies of other consultation materials. Electronic copies of the PEI Report on a USB memory stick can also be supplied free of charge. Please contact National Highways for further details. Any person may comment on the proposals or otherwise respond to this publicity. Responses must be received between Tuesday 12 October and Monday 22 November 2021.
A feedback questionnaire is available as part of the consultation materials and online via

. When providing your response, please include your name and address or, if you would prefer your comments to be anonymous, your postcode only. Please also confirm the nature of your interest in the scheme. Please supply any response using the contact methods below:
- Online: On the dedicated citizen space page which can be accessed via

- Email:

- Post: FREEPOST A358 TAUNTON TO SOUTHFIELDS (the address must be written in capital letters and you do not need a stamp)

Responses must be received no later than Monday 22 November 2021 at 23:59. Responses received after this time may not be considered. National Highways will consider and have regard to all responses when developing the Application for a DCO once consultation has closed. Responses will form the basis of a Consultation Report that will be one of the factors taken into consideration by the Secretary of State when deciding whether the Application can be accepted for examination. Therefore, in providing any comment, it should be borne in mind that the substance of it may be communicated to others as part of the Consultation Report. If you would like further information about this notice, the consultation or the scheme, please contact the project team by using one of the contact methods provided above.
Kat Liddington
Senior Project Manager for A358 Taunton to Southfields Dualling Scheme Email:

Tel: 0300 123 5000 (Thursday 30 September 2021)