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A46 DCO Walsgrave Junction Upgrade

National Highways plans to upgrade the Walsgrave junction on the A46 following the completion of the Binley junction upgrade.

The upgrades aim to:

  • improve safety
  • increase road capacity
  • relieve traffic congestion
  • smooth the flow of traffic 
  • support the economy

The Walsgrave junction sits within the administrative areas of both Rugby Borough Council and Coventry City Council.

More information about the scheme can be found at the National Highways website 

The Development Consent Order (DCO) application was accepted by the Planning Inspectorate on 12 December 2024 and is currently at examination stage, the progress of the application can be viewed on the Planning Inspectorates website. 

Who makes a decision on the plans? 

National Highways consider the upgrade to be a nationally significant infrastructure project, meaning the Secretary of State has responsibility for considering the formal application for a development consent order - a decision administered by the Planning Inspectorate's Infrastructure Planning Unit. 

How do the plans progress? 

National Highways has submitted the application to the Planning Inspectorate and the project progresses through the following stages: 

  • pre-application  
  • submission of application and acceptance by the Planning Inspectorate  
  • pre-examination 
  • examination (currently being undertaken) 
  • recommendation and decision 
  • post decision 
  • formal public consultation and statutory consultations (consultation on National Highways' preferred option took place in June 2022, further consultations to be confirmed) 

Rugby Borough Council's role in the planning process 

As a statutory consultee, the council has the following input into the planning process: 

  • the council has submitted a formal response to the scoping opinion, which can be viewed on the Planning Inspectorate's website 
  • during the pre-application stage, the council inputted into the Statement of Community Consultation, which details how the public consultation - scheduled to take place from October to December 2023 – took place place 
  • the council submitted a formal written representation to the public consultation as a statutory consultee 
  • following the public consultation, the council submitted an 'adequacy of consultation representation' to confirm whether it considered the consultation adequate 
  • the council has responded to the application in relation to any perceived local impacts on the borough and its communities 
  • the council has agreed a statement of common ground with the applicant (based on evidence-based assessments) and responded to any questions or clarifications the Planning Inspectorate had as part of the examination. 
  • council officers intend to attend any hearings or site visits during the planning process 
  • if necessary, the council intends to negotiate and enter into a Section 106 agreement with the owner/developer to secure relevant planning obligations 

Further information 

To find out full details of the A46 Walsgrave junction upgrade, including details of consultation events, visit the National Highways website. 

Members of the public with questions about the project can call National Highways on 0300 123 5000 or email info@highwaysengland.co.uk.