Permission for Stonehenge tunnel could be revoked

The tunnel plan was debated for decades

The government wants to formally remove planning permission for a tunnel on the A303 near Stonehenge after it cancelled the project.

If the proposal to revoke it goes ahead, it would mean re-starting the planning process if the project were ever revived.

The controversial plan got permission in 2023, but the current government said last year it would not move forward with it due to financial constraints.

By the time the project was scrapped, £179.2m had been spent on it.

The previous government had given permission for the £2bn project, which it said would ease traffic around the World Heritage site and nearby villages.

The ancient monument is in a World Heritage site, which complicated things further

In the notice from the Department for Transport, it said "exceptional circumstances" make it "appropriate" to make a proposal to revoke planning permission.

In a statement, the department added: "Given the challenging financial picture we inherited, we had to make difficult decisions about a number of road projects as they were unfunded or unaffordable.

"We remain committed to investing in projects that deliver for the taxpayer and drive growth, which is why we are investing nearly £5bn in this year alone on our strategic road network to support its maintenance, enhancement, and ensure smoother journeys."

The tunnel plan aimed to ease the traffic and make it so the road could not be seen from Stonehenge

The plan would have overhauled eight miles (12.8km) of road, with the tunnel just one part of the wider scheme.

However, there were years of arguments with some residents wanting the tunnel as a solution to the traffic and others concerned for the heritage site.

If planning permission is revoked, developers involved could potentially ask for compensation.

A consultation is set be held about the proposal and the Department for Transport will consider the responses before a decision is made.