Road Project Costs Increased by £28 Million Following Initial Rejection

A significant transport infrastructure initiative experienced an increase in expenses, amounting to approximately £28 million, subsequent to its rejection by local councillors. Last week, Matthew Pennycook, the local government minister, granted approval for the £332 million HIF1 (Housing Infrastructure Fund 1) scheme, intended for Didcot and its vicinity, following a public inquiry. The planning committee of Oxfordshire County Council had previously rejected this project in July 2023, acting contrary to the recommendations provided by the authority’s officers. The scope of the work encompasses converting a section of the A4130 into a dual carriageway, extending from the Milton Interchange in the direction of Didcot. Additionally, two new bridges are slated for construction, and Clifton Hampden is set to receive a new bypass. The council anticipates that construction will commence in early 2026 and is projected to continue for approximately two years. Dan Levy, the cabinet member for finance, stated that the financial burden on the authority would be minimal, as the “overwhelming majority” of the expenses are to be covered by Homes England, a government agency funding the initiative. However, during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Conservative councillor David Bartholomew criticized Mr. Levy for appearing “remarkably relaxed” regarding the escalated costs. “There is no point getting unrelaxed over things you have no control over,” Mr Levy remarked. He added, “Any public money being spent unnecessarily is a bad thing.” Mr. Levy also asserted that the council’s planning committee was “perfectly entitled” to reject the proposal, just as Michael Gove, who was then the local government secretary, was entitled when he requested a review of the decision a week later. Mr. Levy indicated that the inflationary rise in construction expenses, attributed to the delay in initiating HIF1, is estimated at approximately 15%, translating to about £28 million. The combined cost of the public inquiry and a separate inquiry concerning compulsory purchase orders is estimated at £1 million, though the latter inquiry would have been necessary regardless. A new Didcot Science Bridge and an accompanying road are planned as part of the project, designed to link the A4130 with the Collett Roundabout, traversing the site of the former Didcot A Power Station. Furthermore, a new road bridge connecting Didcot to Culham is scheduled for construction, positioned between the A4130 and A415. The UK Atomic Energy Agency (UKAEA), headquartered at Culham Campus, stated last year that the effective implementation of HIF1 was “pivotal” to its operations.