Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

Related pages

• Introduction
• Why we carried out this consultation?
• Reason for the project
• Key issues
• Previous options
• The new solutions
• What happens now?

Previous options

Options considered during 2006

The Highways Agency previously considered four options to widen the M1 between J21 and J21a.

We put forward an option for a link road at a series of public exhibitions during March, April and May 2006. The option presented was not favoured by the local communities of Leicester Forest East and Thorpe Astley. Consequently, based on the comments received from local residents, we decided to review all the options and identify alternatives.

The following shows the four options we initially considered and our current view on them:

Option 1

Key features:

• Proposed six lanes of traffic in each direction between where the link road joins the M1 and Junction 21a
• The proposed link road joins the M1 north of the Motorway Service Area
• Avoids direct impact on the Lubbesthorpe Scheduled Monument

Option 1 Map (377KB JPEG)

Option 1 is not being progressed at this time because: 

• There are potential impacts on residential properties at Leicester Forest East and Thorpe Astley
• This option divides the historic landscape around the Lubbesthorpe Scheduled Monument to the west of the M1
• To provide six running lanes would require the Highways Agency to purchase land owned by properties in Packer Avenue and Charnwood Drive
• There would be direct impacts on two parish level designated nature conservation sites along the proposed link road
• Revised highway standards now mean special approval would be required to maintain access to the Service Area due to the proximity of adjacent junctions

Option 2

Key features:

• Proposed six lanes in each direction between where the proposed link road joins the M1 and Junction 21a
• The link road runs south of the Motorway Service Area. This has less impact on the properties of Leicester Forest East than Option 1, however, it increases the potential impact on properties in Thorpe Astley
• Avoids direct impact on the Lubbesthorpe Scheduled Monument
• Leicester Forest East Motorway Service Area to be removed

Option 2 Map (376KB JPEG) 

Option 2 is not being progressed at this time because:

• There are potential impacts on residential properties at Thorpe Astley from the southbound link road and at the proposed bridge
• This option divides the historic landscape around Lubbesthorpe Scheduled Monument to the west of the M1
• To provide six running lanes would require the Highways Agency to purchase land owned by properties in Packer Avenue and Charnwood Drive
• There would be direct impacts on two parish level designated nature conservation sites along the proposed link road

Option 3

Key features:

• Proposed six lanes in each direction between where the proposed link road joins the M1 and Junction 21a
• Large viaduct structures required to take the southbound link road over the M1 and M69 motorways
• Avoids direct impact on the Lubbesthorpe Scheduled Monument

Option 3 Map (376KB JPEG)

Option 3 is not being progressed at this time because:

• To provide six running lanes in each direction would require the Highways Agency to purchase land from properties in Packer Avenue and Charnwood Drive
• This is a high cost option due to extensive engineering works involved in creating large viaducts for the southbound link
• Direct impact on businesses in Meridian Business Park
• The layout of this option would not satisfy current highway design standards

Option 4

Key features:

• Link road goes north of Motorway Service Area
  (as Option 1)
• Link road to be a separate road running alongside the M1, joining
   at J21a
• Complex slip roads at J21a
• Avoids direct impact on the Lubbesthorpe Scheduled Monument

Option 4 Map (378KB JPEG)

Option 4 is not being progressed at this time because:

• Divides the historic landscape around Lubbesthorpe Scheduled Monument to the west of the M1
• Direct impact on properties in Leicester Forest East to allow for the link road. This would result in additional land take impacting on Webb Close, Kennedy Way, Grange Avenue and Charnwood Drive
• Requires extensive changes to J21a and increases land take
• There would be direct impacts on two parish level designated nature conservation sites along the proposed link road
• Adverse visual impact on setting of Kirby Muxloe Castle and Village