A358 Taunton to Southfields (CANCELLED)
Somerset, UK · Planning/Development (c. 2017-2024); Cancelled October 2024 · £250M - £500M (estimated cost before cancellation)
The judgement call
Account action unavailableThe scheme was cancelled in October 2024 due to poor value for money and limited economic benefits, as announced in the Government's budget. - This highlights the critical importance of robust economic justification and value for money assessments for major infrastructure projects. - Public consultations were held, indicating significant planning and design work undertaken before cancellation.
Key engineering challenges
Addressing significant traffic congestion on the existing single carriageway A358. - Integrating the new dual carriageway with existing road networks and local communities. - Managing environmental impacts in the rural Somerset landscape. - Demonstrating value for money for a project with potentially limited economic benefits.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- National Highways
- Lead contractor
- N/A (main construction not started)
- Lead designers
- N/A (design stages were ongoing)
- Project type
- upgrade (cancelled)
- Scale
- Proposed 8.5 miles (13.7 km) of new dual carriageway between the M5 at Taunton and Southfields Roundabout on the A303.
- Disciplines
- civil; environmental; transport planning
- Standards & frameworks
- DMRB; CDM Regulations
Sources: National Highways (https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/south-west/a358-taunton-to-southfields/) - West Hatch Parish Council (https://westhatchparish.gov.uk/news/cancellation-of-the-a358-improvement-scheme/) - New Civil Engineer (https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/national-highways-pulls-back-on-plan-to-submit-dco-application-for-500m-a358-dualling-11-12-2023/)