Highways Agency

The Project

The existing A421 between the M1 and Bedford Southern Bypass is largely single carriageway with a short length of dual carriageway at Marston Moretaine. The route suffers considerable congestion, particularly during peak hours, and the high traffic flows result in unreliable journey times, a poor accident record and a reduction in the quality of life for local residents.

Proposals to solve these problems include improvement of M1 Junction 13 and construction of a new dual carriageway alongside the existing A421 between the M1 and the Bedford Southern Bypass. The contract for the scheme was awarded to Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd on 4 November 2005.  Construction work could start in 2008 with the road open to traffic in 2010.

For further information on the proposals for this scheme, see the Preferred Route Leaflet - Dec 2004 found under Publications on the right hand menu.

What Has Happened So Far?

On 22 March 2007 the Secretary of State published the proposals in the form of Draft Orders. A three day public exhibition of the proposals was held at the Sports Pavilion in Marston Moretaine from 29 - 31 March 2007.  The public and other interested organisations were allowed a period of 14 weeks until 28 June 2007 to express their support, to comment on, or to object to the proposals.  A total of 98 objections to and 20 letters in support of the proposals  were received.

Following the end of the Objection period, on 5 July 2007 the Highways Agency announced its intention to hold a Public Inquiry. On 19 July 2007 the Highways Agency gave notice that a local Pre-Inquiry Meeting would be held. The Pre-Inquiry meeting took place on 25 October 2007 at Saturn Facilities, Bedford Heights, Manton Lane, Bedford.  The meeting was presided over by Mr J Moffett, BSc, FICE, MIHT an Inspector appointed by the Planning Inspectorate. 

All persons with an interest in the scheme were invited to attend. An independent Programme Officer from Persona Associates was appointed for the Pre-Inquiry Meeting and Public Inquiry.  The Programme Officer’s role is to provide the interface between the Inspector and those who participate in the Inquiry, to arrange the Inquiry programme and to maintain the Inquiry library.

The Public Inquiry held by Mr J Moffett commenced at 10.00 am on 4 December 2007 at Saturn Facilities, Bedford. It provided the opportunity for all points of view to be heard and considered before the Inspector reports his findings to the Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

On the 20 December 2007 the Inquiry was adjourned to re-open on 29 January 2008 to allow the Highways Agency to carry out additional detailed traffic modelling on the design of the proposed junctions at the M1/A421 interchange. The Inquiry was adjourned for a second time on 1 February 2008 to re-open on 13 February to allow the Highways Agency to carry out further traffic modelling. The Inquiry closed on 13 February 2008.

Following the Inquiry, the Inspector produced a report making a recommendation to the Secretaries of State based on the evidence presented by the Highways Agency, the objectors and supporters.

Secretaries of States' Decision

A decision by the Secretaries of State for Transport and Communities and Local Government has been made jointly to proceed with this scheme and Orders will be made shortly. The Secretaries of State have accepted the Inspector's recommendations in his report of the local public inquiry.

A copy of the decision letter and Inspectors report are available on the Publications page of this website.

Made Orders were published on 31 July 2008, copies of the public notices are available on the Publications page of this website.