Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

The Project

This is one of the road projects managed by the Highways Agency, the executive agency of the Department for Transport responsible for operating, maintaining and improving England's strategic road network.

This project has remained in the 'Planned' stage while liaison between the Highways Agency and the Local Authority continued regarding the 3 options presented during the public consultation process held in October/November 2003.

Following the public inquiry in 2003, a number of issues had to be resolved and options A and C were determined as not to be viable. A subsequent proposal, option D, was considered but unfortunately, was found to be impracticable.

However option B, and an amended version of option D (known as Dj) were considered further.

In May 2009, a meeting was held between the Highways Agency, Surrey County Council, the then local MP and representatives of local residents (RAGE).   It was agreed that the Agency would re-run the cost estimating method for options B and Dj. The way scheme costs estimates are carried out had changed following implementation of the Nicholls Review and agreement of the Department for Transport in 2007.  The current method provides a more comprehensive and accurate estimate of the likely cost range and has resulted in an increased estimate of the proposed options.

Revised estimates (dated 2009):

Option	Mid-range cost (for decision making)	Cost Range
Option B	£11m	£8m - £14m
Option Dj	£38m	£27m - £49m

At this time, prioritisation and funding of schemes was via the Regional Funding Allocation, so this information was sent to the South East Regional Transportation Board.  It was included in their Gatwick Diamond transport study, which was submitted to the DfT for consideration in June 2010.

Following the dissolution of the South East Regional Transport Board by the current government and given that the mid-range costs for both schemes are in excess of £10m, both options are now classified as major schemes for prioritisation by DfT.  As a major scheme, it is subject to affordability and best value for money when ranked against other major schemes nationally.

As a result of the 2010 Comprehensive Spending Review, the Agency was mandated to focus on delivering 14 major schemes as set out in the Department for Transport's "Investment in Highways Transport Schemes". This includes three major schemes in the South East; on the A23 between Handcross and Warninglid, on the M25 from junctions 5 to 7 and on the M25 between junctions 23 and 27. 

However, due to the cost of improvements at the Hooley Interchange, the Agency is not currently undertaking any further studies for a potential future major scheme at this location. It is likely that this will remain the position until March 2014, the end of this Comprehensive Spending Review period.