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Written Question
Railways: Modernisation
Monday 20th March 2023

Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to provide funding for improvements at (a) Ely and (b) Haughley rail junctions.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

We are carefully reviewing the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline for England and Wales, following the Autumn Statement. We remain committed to publishing an update on RNEP and this will confirm the status of the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement and Haughley Junction upgrade project.


Written Question
Railways: Modernisation
Monday 20th March 2023

Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to take steps to seek private investment to help fund improvements at (a) Ely and (b) Haughley rail junctions.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

We are carefully reviewing the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline for England and Wales (including the potential for alternative fund contributions), following the Autumn Statement. We remain committed to publishing an update on RNEP and this will confirm the status of the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement and Haughley Junction upgrade project.


Written Question
A12: Suffolk
Tuesday 31st January 2023

Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the capacity of the A12 to accommodate the additional construction traffic associated with the construction of Sizewell C nuclear power station.

Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

My officials have regular discussions with Suffolk County Council to discuss the A12, East of Ipswich Major Road Network scheme. Part of these discussions have included consideration of the role of the A12 in the construction of Sizewell C nuclear power station. It is for Suffolk County Council, as normal practice for a Local Highways Authority, to work with developers to understand and mitigate impacts on their road network from any up coming developments.

In addition, National Highways has worked with the promoter of Sizewell C and Suffolk County Council on the expected traffic impacts to the A12 during construction and operation of the power station.

A Statement of Common Ground between the promoter and National Highways was agreed as part of the planning process for Sizewell C and is available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.


Written Question
A12: Suffolk
Tuesday 31st January 2023

Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the capacity of the A12 to accommodate the additional construction traffic associated with the construction of Sizewell C nuclear power station.

Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

As I believe I stated to the House in November, the current Secretaries of State for Transport and for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have not held discussions about the traffic impact of Sizewell C. However, National Highways worked with the promoter of Sizewell C and Suffolk County Council on traffic impacts to the A12 during construction and operation of the power station.

A Statement of Common Ground between the promoter and National Highways was agreed as part of the planning process for Sizewell C and is available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.


Written Question
A12
Monday 21st November 2022

Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has held discussions with the Secretary of State for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy on the capacity of the A12 to accommodate potential construction traffic associated with the construction of Sizewell C nuclear power station.

Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The A12 road at Sizewell is the responsibility of the local highway authority, Suffolk County Council, but where it reaches Lowestoft to the north and Ipswich to the south it becomes the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Transport and is managed on his behalf by National Highways.

The current Secretaries of State for Transport and for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have not held discussions about the traffic impact of Sizewell C, however, National Highways worked with the promoter of Sizewell C and Suffolk County Council on traffic impacts to the A12 during construction and operation of the power station.

A Statement of Common Ground between the promoter and National Highways was agreed as part of the planning process for Sizewell C and is available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

Suffolk County Council has submitted an Outline Business Case to the Department for improvements to the A12 east of Ipswich which is on the Major Road Network. If approved, this will add the capacity needed on this part of the A12 to accommodate construction traffic for the proposed Sizewell C nuclear power station as well as supporting other planned growth in the area.


Written Question
Railway Network: Suffolk
Wednesday 6th July 2022

Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his timetable is for the completion of upgrade works to Haughley Junction in Suffolk.

Answered by Wendy Morton

I will shortly set out our plans for rail enhancements across England and Wales, including Haughley Junction, in the updated Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline (RNEP).


Written Question
Transport: East of England
Wednesday 8th December 2021

Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department will take to work with Transport East to ensure the timely and effective delivery of the recently launched regional Transport Strategy.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

Transport East has worked closely with Department for Transport officials to develop their transport strategy, turning national priorities into actionable plans reflecting the needs of the region. The Department expects the transport strategy to be the evidence base Transport East will draw on to advise the Government on investment priorities in the East and to deliver on Government objectives on decarbonisation and levelling up.


Written Question
A12: Suffolk
Tuesday 2nd November 2021

Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department will take to reduce congestion on the A12 north of Ipswich and in surrounding villages as a result of traffic movements relating to the construction of the Sizewell C Nuclear Power Station.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

The A12 north of Ipswich is the responsibility of Suffolk County Council as the local highway authority. It is for them, working with Transport East as the relevant sub-national transport body, to consider the opportunities and options for enhancing the A12 and other transport provision in this area to meet the demands of local people, businesses and energy infrastructure.

The Suffolk Energy Gateway Project proposed by Suffolk in 2016 (also known as the Four Villages Bypass) did not provide sufficient value for money and the level of investment from industry and the Council was too low to secure government funding. It is for Suffolk, working with Transport East, to develop a revised proposal and bid again when the opportunity arises, but this would have to represent better value for money and include a larger financial contribution from the Council and industry stakeholders.

The examination of the application for development consent for the proposed Sizewell C nuclear power station closed on 14 October 2021 and the Examining Authority is now writing its report which will set out its conclusions and recommendations on the proposals. The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is due to receive the Examining Authority’s report by 14 January 2022.

As is the case for all applications for development consent, the Secretary of State for BEIS will consider all matters that are relevant when taking his decision on the project. This includes an assessment of potential impacts on roads during construction and operation and where necessary the applicant will need to provide mitigation measures which may include road improvements. Given the quasi-judicial role of the Secretary of State for BEIS in determining the application, it would be inappropriate to comment on specific matters regarding the proposed project, as this could be seen as prejudicing the decision-making process.

The Department and National Highways is examining the case for retrunking the A12 between Ipswich and Lowestoft with Suffolk County Council and Transport East as part of a wider strategic review of the road. Evidence gathered through this review will inform ministerial decisions about whether to progress work further.


Written Question
A12: Suffolk
Tuesday 2nd November 2021

Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of a Four Villages Bypass on the A12 around Marlesford, Stratford St Andrew, Farnham and Little Glemham in Suffolk to reduce the impact of HGV vehicle movements on the villages whilst the construction of Sizewell C is in progress.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

The A12 north of Ipswich is the responsibility of Suffolk County Council as the local highway authority. It is for them, working with Transport East as the relevant sub-national transport body, to consider the opportunities and options for enhancing the A12 and other transport provision in this area to meet the demands of local people, businesses and energy infrastructure.

The Suffolk Energy Gateway Project proposed by Suffolk in 2016 (also known as the Four Villages Bypass) did not provide sufficient value for money and the level of investment from industry and the Council was too low to secure government funding. It is for Suffolk, working with Transport East, to develop a revised proposal and bid again when the opportunity arises, but this would have to represent better value for money and include a larger financial contribution from the Council and industry stakeholders.

The examination of the application for development consent for the proposed Sizewell C nuclear power station closed on 14 October 2021 and the Examining Authority is now writing its report which will set out its conclusions and recommendations on the proposals. The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is due to receive the Examining Authority’s report by 14 January 2022.

As is the case for all applications for development consent, the Secretary of State for BEIS will consider all matters that are relevant when taking his decision on the project. This includes an assessment of potential impacts on roads during construction and operation and where necessary the applicant will need to provide mitigation measures which may include road improvements. Given the quasi-judicial role of the Secretary of State for BEIS in determining the application, it would be inappropriate to comment on specific matters regarding the proposed project, as this could be seen as prejudicing the decision-making process.

The Department and National Highways is examining the case for retrunking the A12 between Ipswich and Lowestoft with Suffolk County Council and Transport East as part of a wider strategic review of the road. Evidence gathered through this review will inform ministerial decisions about whether to progress work further.


Written Question
Roads: Suffolk
Tuesday 2nd November 2021

Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department will take to ensure that infrastructure is provided and maintained to support the construction of the Sizewell C Nuclear Power Station in Suffolk.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

The A12 north of Ipswich is the responsibility of Suffolk County Council as the local highway authority. It is for them, working with Transport East as the relevant sub-national transport body, to consider the opportunities and options for enhancing the A12 and other transport provision in this area to meet the demands of local people, businesses and energy infrastructure.

The Suffolk Energy Gateway Project proposed by Suffolk in 2016 (also known as the Four Villages Bypass) did not provide sufficient value for money and the level of investment from industry and the Council was too low to secure government funding. It is for Suffolk, working with Transport East, to develop a revised proposal and bid again when the opportunity arises, but this would have to represent better value for money and include a larger financial contribution from the Council and industry stakeholders.

The examination of the application for development consent for the proposed Sizewell C nuclear power station closed on 14 October 2021 and the Examining Authority is now writing its report which will set out its conclusions and recommendations on the proposals. The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is due to receive the Examining Authority’s report by 14 January 2022.

As is the case for all applications for development consent, the Secretary of State for BEIS will consider all matters that are relevant when taking his decision on the project. This includes an assessment of potential impacts on roads during construction and operation and where necessary the applicant will need to provide mitigation measures which may include road improvements. Given the quasi-judicial role of the Secretary of State for BEIS in determining the application, it would be inappropriate to comment on specific matters regarding the proposed project, as this could be seen as prejudicing the decision-making process.

The Department and National Highways is examining the case for retrunking the A12 between Ipswich and Lowestoft with Suffolk County Council and Transport East as part of a wider strategic review of the road. Evidence gathered through this review will inform ministerial decisions about whether to progress work further.