Government Revokes Development Consent for £1.7bn Stonehenge Tunnel Scheme

The Transport Secretary has formally revoked the Development Consent Order (DCO) for the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down project — better known as the Stonehenge Tunnel — officially ending one of the UK’s most controversial road schemes.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed that “exceptional circumstances” had led to the decision to withdraw development consent for the £1.7bn project, which aimed to relieve congestion on the A303 and improve traffic flow past the World Heritage Site.

Longstanding Congestion Problem

The A303 is one of the South West’s key arterial routes, but the single-carriageway section near Stonehenge is notorious for bottlenecks. National Highways had argued that a new 12.8km dual carriageway — including a 3.3km tunnel beneath part of the World Heritage Site — would reduce journey times, cut congestion, and enhance the setting of Stonehenge by removing surface traffic.

However, opponents — including UNESCO, heritage groups, and environmental campaigners — warned that the tunnel could cause irreversible damage to the surrounding archaeological landscape.

Years of Legal and Political Uncertainty

The scheme has been mired in controversy for nearly a decade. Originally approved in November 2020 by then Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, the project was subsequently quashed by the High Court, which ruled the decision “unlawful.”The plan was later resubmitted and approved again in July 2023 by Mark Harper, despite continued opposition from campaigners and heritage groups.

Following the change of government in July 2024, the scheme was paused due to “budgetary constraints,” and now, with the DCO revoked, it will no longer be possible for National Highways to progress the project.

The Department for Transport confirmed that representations on the revocation can be made until 21 November 2025.

‘Exceptional Circumstances’ Behind the Decision

In the revocation notice, published by the Department for Transport, Alexander said the move was justified by “exceptional circumstances” — though no further details were provided.

It marks the second time the Transport Secretary has used these powers since taking office, following the revocation of the A1 Morpeth to Ellingham DCO in August.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said:

“The government remains committed to improving connectivity in the South West, but large-scale schemes must represent value for money and align with environmental and cultural priorities.”

Industry Reaction

National Highways has long maintained that the Stonehenge Tunnel would deliver substantial benefits to both local communities and regional economies. When the project was last approved in 2023, National Highways Chief Executive Nick Harris said the scheme would “help boost the South West economy, improve journey reliability, and restore the setting of one of the UK’s most important heritage sites.”

The preferred construction partner — the More JV, comprising FCC Construcción, WeBuild, and BeMo Tunnelling — had been appointed in 2022, supported by a design consortium including AtkinsRéalis, Jacobs, and Sener.

The revocation now brings the joint venture’s involvement to an end, alongside several years of preparatory work.

Opposition Groups Welcome Decision

Campaigners have repeatedly challenged the scheme on environmental and heritage grounds, arguing that alternatives to tunnelling should be explored.

A spokesperson for the Stonehenge Alliance, which led opposition efforts, said the decision represented “a victory for common sense.”

“This is a globally significant landscape that cannot be replicated. We hope this decision marks a turning point in how major infrastructure is planned near protected heritage sites,” they said.

Looking Ahead

While the A303’s congestion remains unresolved, the government’s decision suggests a broader shift away from large, high-cost roadbuilding schemes and toward projects that meet tighter fiscal, environmental, and cultural tests.

Industry analysts say the revocation could have wider implications for other major road projects currently under review.

With the DCO now officially withdrawn, the Stonehenge Tunnel will likely go down as one of the most debated infrastructure proposals in modern UK history — a project that raised fundamental questions about how the nation balances economic growth, environmental protection, and cultural heritage.