Government Officially Revokes Stonehenge Tunnel Approval — Wiltshire Council Condemns Decision

Wiltshire Council has sharply criticised the government’s decision to revoke planning permission for the Stonehenge tunnel project, calling the move a major setback for the region.

The Stonehenge tunnel, part of the wider A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down upgrade, was intended to ease chronic congestion and improve traffic flow around the World Heritage site.

However, the scheme has now been formally cancelled after the government revoked its Development Consent Order (DCO) — effectively halting all progress and nullifying previous approvals.

The Labour government, which came to power last year, had previously signalled its opposition to projects deemed financially unviable by the former administration. With the DCO now withdrawn, any future attempt to revive the scheme would require starting the entire planning and approval process from scratch.

Wiltshire Council Leader, Councillor Ian Thorn, condemned the move as “completely unacceptable,” accusing the government of abandoning years of effort and investment.

“This decision disregards years of planning, consultation and public money,” Thorn said. “It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity lost — an opportunity to modernise one of the South West’s most critical transport corridors.”

He warned that the revocation would have serious consequences for local communities and the regional economy.

“This will leave residents and businesses facing ongoing congestion and rat-running, undermine economic growth, and waste the infrastructure already in place. It’s not just a setback — it’s a step backwards for a region already underfunded compared to other parts of the country.”

Thorn added that the council will continue to lobby for investment and alternative solutions to improve connectivity and transport across Wiltshire and the South West.

To date, more than £160 million has been spent on the scheme, with total costs previously projected at around £2 billionbefore its cancellation.