News due on the A38’s funding next week…

We’re expecting news on the A38’s funding next week, as the scheme is part of the Government’s upcoming infrastructure spending review.

This Wednesday 11 June is the big moment. The review will set out the Government’s spending priorities for the next three years—and around the same time, they’re due to publish a 10-year infrastructure strategy. 

That’s when we’ll see if ministers are serious about shifting to public transport and tackling the climate nature emergencies, or if it’s business as usual with funding for pointless and destructive road schemes like the A38.

Rather ironic timing, given it’s Great Big Green Week, and Better Transport Week is just around the corner.

You can keep an eye on updates via our news page:
www.a38derbychaos.org/news

Some good news...

There’s been a major announcement of regional transport investment this week. The East Midlands is getting £2 billion for a new mass transit system connecting Derby and Nottingham—including road, rail, and bus improvements across the Trent Arc corridor.

This includes potential expansion of the Nottingham tram into Derby:

• Tram route revealed – Nottingham Post

• Gov press release

• BBC coverage

• East Midlands Mayor press release

Unfortunately the £15bn includes two road schemes - Chesterfield-Staveley Route and A614/A6097 works in north Nottinghamshire.

Could this affect the A38? Possibly. The £15bn allocated is effectively the Network North plan finally backed by real funding. But with Rachel Reeves allowing more capital spending on infrastructure, roads could still see a big slice of the pie. We’ll have to wait and see how all the funding commitments stack up.

Whatever happens...

Even if the A38 survives this review, construction can’t start until after the Full Business Case is signed off—and National Highways confirmed via FOI that won’t happen until June 2026.

So, if Wednesday brings bad news, it’s not the end of the road. We’ll keep up the pressure to scrap the scheme and shift the money to sustainable transport instead.

You can still write to representatives using our templates here: https://www.a38derbychaos.org/take-action