Decision details

Highways England have now submitted their application for a Development Consent Order for the A428 improvements between Black Cat and Caxton Gibbet. This is a significant step forwards in the formal process for the scheme, and matters now become quite procedural and there are set timescales and processes for the application.

The first stage is a review of the application by the Planning Inspectorate who will be determining the submission, specifically regarding the consultation which has been carried out by Highways England to support the scheme. The Planning Inspectorate has requested a formal written response on the adequacy of consultation carried out on the scheme. This request was received on the 26th of February with a 14 day deadline expiring this Friday, 12th March.

The Cambridgeshire authorities have been working together on a joint response. As this is a fairly procedural part of the process, which doesn’t cover the merits or benefits and impacts of the scheme, and is restricted to the consultation that has been carried out, the Cambridgeshire authorities aim to confirm that Highways England has consulted the authorities adequately as part of the pre-application process. However, the response will also highlight areas that need to be addressed as part of the DCO discussions.

Highway England’s consultation process on the A428 is adequate therefore there is no objection in respect of this matter.

The A428 improvements will improve capacity on the highway network. The consultation process that was undertaken satisfies the requirements of legislation.

Option 1 – To indicate that the consultation process that Highways England engaged in was inadequate.

Reason for rejection:

The Authorities consider that Highways England has consulted on the terms set out in their Statement of Community Consultation. From review it appears that Highways England has consulted all appropriate groups, parishes and districts as well as statutory bodies.

The authorities also consider that the 2019 and 2020 Statutory Consultations were thorough and of appropriate quality, and engaged well with the public and relevant authorities, satisfying the requirements of the relevant duties to consult with the public. It is harder to say, without having seen much of the detail of the application, whether the Authorities responses to those consultations have been addressed.