Stonehenge tunnel plan officially scrapped after years of protests
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After decades of debate and significant expenditure, the UK Department for Transport has officially cancelled the controversial plan to build a tunnel under the Stonehenge World Heritage Site. The decision revokes the development consent order for the tunnel, junctions, and bypass, halting a project approved in 2023 but later put on hold due to escalating costs reaching £1.4 billion. The project, intended to ease congestion, faced opposition from campaigners concerned about potential damage to the prehistoric landscape. While some local officials lament the loss of a congestion solution, preservation groups celebrate the decision, urging investment in alternative transport. The Department for Transport stated the project no longer aligns with current policy objectives and its cancellation removes planning restrictions on the land.
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AI-ExtractedThe decision was made by transport secretary Heidi Alexander and no longer aligns with current strategic policy objectives.
The area is an “entire landscape that is full of prehistoric monuments of incalculable value”.
The plans were approved in 2023, but put on hold in 2024 after costs were expected to reach £1.4bn.
The project's costs, including planning, have reached £179.2m.
A plan to build a tunnel under Stonehenge has been officially cancelled.
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