Long awaited Banwell bypass given go ahead by government

The bypass will include new cycle ways and horse-riding tracks, as well as ponds and woodlands

The long-awaited building of a £89.2m bypass has been given the go ahead almost 100 years after it was first proposed.

North Somerset Council has been granted permission to use Compulsory Purchase Orders to buy land needed to build on.

Construction for the Banwell bypass can now begin. If completed on time, the road could be open by 2026.

Council leader Mike Bell said: "This brilliant news marks a truly historic day for North Somerset."

Banwell village, on the edge of the Mendip Hills, faces serious congestion issues as two A-roads meet in the centre where roads narrow down to a single lane.

Congestion occurs in Banwell as road traffic funnels through a stretch of road called "the narrows"

Mr Bell said the bypass "was first proposed all the way back in 1927", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"Not only will the Banwell bypass ease longstanding traffic issues in Banwell village, it will better connect communities by cutting journey times for those travelling between Weston-super-Mare and the A38," he added.

"In the coming weeks we will begin environmental works, readying the area for construction set to start in the spring."

Planning permission for the scheme was approved in March 2023, but the council had to wait for the government to decide the outcome of a public inquiry over the compulsory purchase orders needed to acquire the land.

Now the Department for Transport has issued its decision that the compulsory purchase orders can go ahead.

Local people have been calling for the bypass to be built for years

While the contract to build the road itself is forecast to cost £56.5m, the scheme as a whole - which includes other costs such as consultants, utilities and contingency money - carries a £89.2m price tag.

Homes England has provided £77.3m of this money, with the council contributing £11.9m.

Steve Voller, from the Build Our Bypass community group, said: "This is fantastic news for Banwell residents and anyone who suffers from the increasing congestion and delays trying to get through the village.

"New footpaths, cycle ways and horse-riding tracks make this a scheme not just a road. We're really excited by the news and are now looking forward to work getting started."