The Government has removed 25 proposed road schemes from its Major Road Network and Large Local Majors (MRN/LLM) funding programme, leaving 16 schemes able to progress subject to further approvals.
Department for Transport documents updated on 23 October 2026 show that 10 schemes were withdrawn because the promoting local authorities could no longer afford their funding contributions. A further 15 were removed after a review of the 41 schemes originally under consideration.
Why were the schemes removed?
The department said its assessment considered affordability for councils and central government, how quickly schemes could be delivered, value for money and alignment with priorities including housing and economic growth. The Government confirmed in March that 16 schemes would continue, subject to relevant business-case approvals.
Which road schemes have been removed?
The 15 schemes removed following the final review are:
- A350 Melksham Bypass
- A500 Corridor Scheme
- A454 between Wolverhampton and East Park Gateway
- A509 Isham Bypass
- Blyth Relief Road
- Chesterfield–Staveley Regeneration Route
- Ely to Cambridge A10 Improvement
- Kendal Northern Access Route
- A31 Farnham Corridor
- A4174 MOD Roundabout Improvements
- A1079 Improvement Scheme, Wilberfoss
- A1139 University Access
- A127 Corridor for Growth – Route Improvements
- City Centre Road, Portsmouth
- M5 Junction 9 (A46 Ashchurch)
The 10 schemes withdrawn during the review because local authorities could no longer afford their contributions are:
- Shrewsbury North Western Relief Road
- Warrington Western Link Road
- Rocket Junction Liverpool – M62 J4/A58
- Sheffield Innovation Corridor Road
- A13/A126 East Facing Slip Roads
- A1237 York Outer Ring Road Dualling Phase 2
- Aylesbury Eastern Link
- Shipley Eastern Congestion Relief Road
- West Quay Road Realignment, Southampton
- A17 Pullover Junction
Essex A127 improvement scheme affected
The A127 Corridor for Growth – Route Improvements scheme is among the 15 projects removed. The decision has particular significance for Essex, where the A127 is a major road connection for businesses and commuters.
In a parliamentary answer on 23 October, transport minister Justin Madders said Essex County Council's consolidated local transport settlement for 2026–27 to 2029–30 was £378.8 million. He said removal of early-stage MRN/LLM schemes had not changed the cited Essex funding allocations because no funding commitments had been made to those schemes.
Which schemes are continuing?
The 16 projects remaining in the programme include the Norwich Western Link, A43 Northampton improvements, A229 Blue Bell Hill improvements and Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor Phase 4. The full list is:
- A140–A1120 Earl Stonham
- A10 Corridor Scheme in Broxbourne
- Norwich Western Link
- Vauxhall Way Improvements Phase 1
- Shalesmoor Gateway
- A650 Tong Street
- A426/A4071 Avon Mill/Hunters Lane improvements
- A43 Northampton
- A379 Bridge Road
- M5 Junction 28
- Northam Rail Bridge
- A229 Blue Bell Hill improvements
- A259 South Coast Corridor
- A326 Waterside improvements
- Wigan East West
- Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor Phase 4
Continuing in the programme does not mean every project has final construction approval: each remains subject to the relevant business-case decisions.
What happens next?
Removal from this particular national funding programme does not necessarily prevent a local authority from pursuing a project through another funding route. However, the withdrawn and removed schemes no longer have a route forward under the programme as currently listed.