FOI release

Cost of work to date on A303 Stonehenge tunnel scheme, and cost of delays

This request was refused in part, so we didn't provide some of the information the requester asked for. This may include information where we can neither confirm nor deny that we hold it.

Case reference EIR2024/00186

Received 3 June 2024

Published 6 September 2024

Request

Question 1 I would like to know the total cost of the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down project to date, or to the most recent date up to which this information is available. Question 2 (a) and (b) I would like to know how much cost has been incurred by National Highways due to the action pursued by Save Stonehenge World Heritage Site / Stonehenge Alliance, including (a) the cost of legal fees through the court challenges to date, or to the most recent date up to which this information is available; and (b) the cost of delays to the project resulting from the legal action to date, or to the most recent date up to which this information is available. Question 3 What is the cost to date of the contract with Wessex Archaeology for work on the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down project since 2023 in preparation for the main site works, which has been unable to start due to project delays? I am aware of FOI 4910 submitted on 5 Feb 2023, in response to which National Highways gave total costs to Dec 2022 of £135,904,672, with legal fees since Nov 2020 of £669,288 and procurement and letting contracts costs of £4,570,534.

Response

I can confirm that we hold some of the information you have requested.

Information provided

Question 1

I would like to know the total cost of the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down project to date, or to the most recent date up to which this information is available.

The total cost of the project to date is £166,230,578.16. This figure is accurate as of May 2024.

Question 2 (a)

I would like to know how much cost has been incurred by National Highways due to the action pursued by Save Stonehenge World Heritage Site / Stonehenge Alliance, including (a) the cost of legal fees through the court challenges to date, or to the most recent date up to which this information is available;

The total cost of legal fees to date is £287,605.08 (including VAT).

Question 3

What is the cost to date of the contract with Wessex Archaeology for work on the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down project since 2023 in preparation for the main site works, which has been unable to start due to project delays?

The total cost of the Wessex Archaeology contract to date is £4,635,283.01 (including VAT).

Information not held

Question 2 (b)

the cost of delays to the project resulting from the legal action to date, or to the most recent date up to which this information is available.

I have established that the information you have requested is not held by National Highways. It therefore falls under Regulation 12(4)(a) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

Advice and Assistance

The total cost of the project estimated in the September 2019 Outline Business Case is £1,920m. This figure will be impacted by inflation since that time, and we have not concluded the business case work which will be completed upon conclusion of the legal process. This is when the cost of delays to the project resulting from the legal action will be understood. You are welcome to make a new request for this information at a later date.

Documents

There are no documents for this release.

This is National Highways' response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.

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