Lancashire County Council gives all-clear for A582 highways project

Lancashire County Council has granted planning consent for the long‑awaited replacement of the double roundabout on the A582 near Farington Moss, a project first proposed in 2015 and now set to receive Department for Transport backing.

The 22.7-acre site, within South Ribble Council boundaries, currently features double roundabouts where Croston Road meets the A582 and the access to Lancashire Business Park. These are set to be replaced by three signal-controlled T-junctions, which modelling shows will improve traffic flow.

The remodelling also includes the addition of cycleways, six Toucan crossings, the rerouting of Centurion Way (providing access to the business park), and the diversion of a public right of way. A water attenuation pond will be installed, alongside landscaped ecological mitigation areas and 2m-tall acoustic fencing.

The scheme forms part of a wider package of works along the A582, long regarded as a barrier to local development. Close to Penwortham Way and Lancashire County Cricket Club’s new base at Farington, the improvements aim to support future housing and mixed-use developments. According to the pre-meeting report:

“If the objectives of the scheme were not achieved, travel along the A582 would likely remain congested, leading to longer and more unpredictable journey times for vehicles. People walking and cycling would continue to face difficulties at crossing points. Access to new housing developments between Penwortham and Lostock Hall, as well as to development sites north of Leyland including the new Lancashire Cricket Club and other mixed-use areas, would be hindered, potentially slowing down growth and investment in the region. Without improvements to support both the current single-lane layout and a future upgrade to a dual carriageway, traffic flow would remain inefficient, and the road network would struggle to cope with increasing demand over time.”

Lancashire County Council has already allocated £19m from its own budget, with an additional £40m–£50m expected from the DfT once planning consent is confirmed.

The project has previously undergone public consultation in 2015 and 2019 and was initially proposed as a full-scale dualling scheme.