North Hykeham Relief Road

About the project

This project will link the Lincoln Eastern Bypass with the existing Western bypass to create a ring road. It will also form part of the Lincolnshire Coastal Highway.

View the planning application

View the S73 application

Aims and benefits

The project aims and benefits are to:

• assist the sustainable economic growth of Lincoln and Lincolnshire
• reduce congestion in and around North Hykeham, Lincoln and the surrounding villages
• improve the quality of life in the Lincoln area
• maximise accessibility to central Lincoln
• improve road safety in central Lincoln and the other nearby settlements

A 3D flight over the North Hykeham Relief Road proposed route from June 2023

Cost and funding

£110 million was allocated for the project in November 2020 from the Department for Tranport's 'Large Local Majors' programme.

The remaining budget will be funded by Lincolnshire County Council and developer contributions, which the council will forward fund.

Timeline

• October 2005: First 'preferred route' consultation takes place
• April 2006: Route 2c selected as the basis for an Emerging Preferred Route
• October 2006: Second 'preferred route' consultation takes place
• December 2006: Route 2c endorsed as the relief road's preferred route
• July 2017: Funding for preparation of an outline business case secured
• June 2018: Scheme engagement carried out
• September 2018: Engagement report published
• February 2019: Outline business case complete
• February 2019: Funding bid submitted to Midlands Connect
• Summer 2019: Midlands Connect sends prioritised list of schemes to DfT
• November 2020: £110 million DfT funding allocation received
• April 2022: Balfour Beatty appointed to design and build the new road
• September 2022: First set of pre-planning public information events take place
• March 2023: Second set of pre-planning public information events take place
• June 2023: Final set of pre-planning public information events take place
• October 2023: Planning application submitted
• May 2024: Planning permission granted
• July 2024: Legal orders approved by Executive
• October 2024: Legal orders published
• July 2025*: Public inquiry takes place
• TBC 2025*: Construction begins
• TBC 2028*: Project complete

*All future dates are projected and subject to change dependent on external factors.

Legal orders

Compulsory purchase orders

• NHRR Compulsory purchase orders

Side road orders

• NHRR Side road orders

Statement of reasons

• NHRR Statement of reasons

Statement of case

• Statement of case

Notices

• NHRR Notices

Engineering drawings

• NHRR Engineering drawings

Legal documents

• The Highways Act 1980
• The Acquisition of Land Act 1981
• The Compulsory Purchase Act 1965
• The Town and Country Planning Act 1990
• The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017
• The Humans Rights Act 1998
• The Equality Act 2010

National policy documents

• Major Road Network and large Major Programme
• Compulsory Purchase Process and the Crichel Down Rules
• The Department of Transport Local Authority Circular 2/97
• Transport Analysis Guidance
• National Planning Policy Framework December 2024
• National Planning Policy Framework December 2023 (archived pdf version)
• DfT Circular 01/2022 Strategic road network and the delivery of sustainable development

Local policy documents

• Central Lincolnshire Local Plan
• Lincoln Transport Strategy
• Local Transport Plan 5
• Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership Local Industrial Strategy
• Thorpe on the Hill Neighbourhood Plan
• Hykeham Neighbourhood Plan
• Bracebridge Heath Neighbourhood Plan

Decision making

• Report to Executive dated 5 December 2006 "Preferred Route for Lincoln Southern Bypass"
• Report to Executive dated 2 October 2018 "North Hykeham Relief Road"
• Report to Executive dated 5 April 2022 “North Hykeham Relief Road (NHRR)”
• Report to Executive dated 3 October 2023 “North Hykeham Relief Road”
• Report to Executive dated 6 February 2024 “North Hykeham Relief Road (NHRR) - Land Assembly Preparation and Highways Matters”
• Report to Planning and Regulation Committee dated 13 May 2024 “County Council Development - 23/1447/CCC”
• Report to Executive dated 2 July 2024 “North Hykeham Relief Road (NHRR) – Compulsory Purchase Order and Side Roads Order”

Design documents

• Design Manual for Roads and Bridges
• Lincolnshire County Council Highway Design
• CIRIA SUDs Guidance Manual (C753)

Planning application documents

• Planning Application PL/0087/23
• Section 73 Planning Application Documents

Other documents

• Outline Business Case
  • Commericial case
  • Economic Case
    • NHRR OBC Economic Case
    • Appendix A – Local Model Validation and Addendum
      • GLTM Local Model Validation Report - Part 1
      • GLTM Local Model Validation Report - Part 2
      • GLTM Local Model Validation Report - Part 3
      • ​​​​​​NHRR Local Model Validation Report Addendum
    • Appendix B - Traffic Forecasting Report
      • NHRR Traffic Forecasting Report - Part 1
      • NHRR Traffic Forecasting Report - Part 2
      • NHRR Traffic Forecasting Report - Part 3
      • NHRR Traffic Forecasting Report Appendices
        • APPENDIX A - Development Uncertainty and Trip Generation
        • APPENDIX B - SUE Images
        • APPENDIX C - NTM GV Factors
        • APPENDIX D - Development Trip Distribution Gravity Model Calibration
        • APPENDIX E - Forecast Fixed Speed Factors
        • APPENDIX F - VDM Sector Impacts
        • APPENDIX G - Highway Model Convergence
        • APPENDIX H - Core Scenario Flow Diff Optimized
        • APPENDIX I - Core Scenario Delay Diff Optimized
        • APPENDIX J - VDM Convergence
        • APPENDIX K - Alternative Option Flow Diff Optimized
        • APPENDIX L - Alternative Growth Flow Diff Optimized
    • Appendix C – Economic Appraisal Report
      • NHRR Economic Appraisal Report
    • Appendix D – Environmental Appraisal
      • Appendix D - Environmental Appraisal - Part 1
      • Appendix D - Environmental Appraisal - Part 2
      • Appendix D - Environmental Appraisal - Part 3
    • Appendix E – Economic Impact Report
      • NHRR Economic Impact Report
      • NHRR Economic Impact Report Appendices
        • APPENDIX A - SWQ Land Budget Plan
    • Appendix F – Social and Distributional Impacts Report
      • NHRR Social and Distributional Impacts Report - Part 1
      • NHRR Social and Distributional Impacts Report - Part 2
      • NHRR Social and Distributional Impacts Report - Part 3
  • Financial Case
    • NHRR OBC Financial Case
  • Management Case
    • NHRR OBC Management Case
  • Strategic Case
    • NHRR OBC Strategic Case
    • Appendix A – Options Appraisal Report
      • NHRR Options Appraisal Report
      • Appendix A - Policy and Strategy Review
      • Appendix B - Supplementary Traffic Data
      • Appendix C - Select Link Analysis
      • Appendix D - Junction Capacity
      • Appendix E - Environmental Constraints
      • Appendix F - Objectives and Outcomes
      • Appendix G - LITS Option Generation Approach
      • Appendix H - Structures Options
        • Option for River Witham South Bridge - Dual Carriageway Option
        • Options for A607 Over-Bridge - Dual Carriageway Option
        • Options for A607 Over-Bridge
        • Options for River Witham Bridge
        • Options for Station Road Over-Bridge – Dual Carriageway Option
        • Options for Station Road Over-Bridge
      • Appendix I - Design Workshop Technical Note
      • Appendix J - Initial Sift
      • Appendix K - EAST Sift
      • Appendix L - Traffic Impact Assessment
      • Appendix M - Options Assessment Framework
      • Appendix N - NHRR - Engagement Report - Part 1
      • Appendix N - NHRR - Engagement Report - Part 2
      • Appendix N - NHRR - Engagement Report - Part 3
    • Appendix B - Transport Investment Strategy
      • NHRR Transport Investment Strategy
    • Appendix C - Strategic and Wider Benefits Report
      • NHRR Strategic and Wider Benefits Report
    • Appendix D - A46 Concept Designs
      • Preliminary Dual Carriageway Plan 1 of 2
      • Preliminary Dual Carriageway Plan 2 of 2
    • Appendix E - NHRR Outline Designs
      • NHRR Dual Carriageway Option NMU Access Arrangement Sheet 1 of 5
      • NHRR Dual Carriageway Option NMU Access Arrangement Sheet 2 of 5
      • NHRR Dual Carriageway Option NMU Access Arrangement Sheet 3 of 5
      • NHRR Dual Carriageway Option NMU Access Arrangement Sheet 4 of 5
      • NHRR Dual Carriageway Option NMU Access Arrangement Sheet 5 of 5
      • NHRR Dual Carriageway Plan
      • NHRR Dual Carriageway PMA Access Track 
    • Appendix F - Stakeholder Support
      • NHRR Stakeholder Support
      • NHRR Stakeholder Support Appendices
        • Appendix A - Stakeholder Supporting Letters
• Agreement between National Highways Limited and Lincolnshire County Council pursuant to section 6 and section 8 of the Highways Act 1980 relating to highway works at A46 Hykeham Roundabout to the south-west of Lincoln
  • Section 6 Agreement – Lincolnshire County Council
  • Section 6 Agreement – National Highways

Public inquiry

A public inquiry is to be held in relation to the North Hykeham Relief Road Compulsory Purchase and Side Roads Order.

The public inquiry will begin at 10.00am on Tuesday 01 July 2025 at DoubleTree by Hilton Lincoln, Brayford Wharf, Lincoln, LN1 1YW.

This will be to hear representations from remaining objectors and statutory objectors from any other persons having an interest in the land the subject of the Compulsory Purchase Order and, at the Inspector’s discretion, to hear representations from any other persons who may desire to appear and be heard.

Inquiry documents

• Public inquiry: Library
• Public inquiry: LCC Pre-hearing documentation (page 1 of 2)
• Public inquiry: LCC Pre-hearing documentation (page 2 of 2)

Latest news

• Public inquiry: Latest news

Inspector

Jason Whitfield BA (Hons) DipTP MRTPI, is the Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport for this purpose 

Programme officer

Carole Crookes has been appointed as the Programme Officer for the public inquiry.

Carole is an independent officer of the inquiry and works on the Inspector’s behalf, organising and managing the administrative and procedural matters of the inquiry process.

The Programme Officer acts as the contact for anyone who has an interest in the inquiry, liaising between the Inspector, objectors and Council.

Any matters that you may wish to raise with the Inspector should be submitted through the Programme Officer.

Programme Officer contact details

Carole Crookes, Independent Programme Officer Solutions

• Email: Lincoln@iposolutions.online
• Phone: 07397 909822

Public inquiry: Library

Public inquiry: LCC Pre-hearing documentation (page 1 of 2)

Public inquiry: LCC Pre-hearing documentation (page 2 of 2)

Public inquiry: Latest news

• 10/07/2025: During the inquiry, on 8 July, the Council presented to the Inspector its proposed modifications in relation to the CPO (Schedule of Modifications - IN/LCC/16) and SRO (Schedule of Modifications - IN/LCC/17). These relate to a large number of files which may be accessed in the Inquiry Library.
• 09/07/2025: The Council made their final submissions to the inquiry (IN/LCC/15). The Inspector formally closed the Public Inquiry into the North Hykeham Relief Road at 11.10am.
• 08/07/2025: Wolfson Trago has submitted a letter withdrawing its objection to the Orders (IN/OTH/10).
• 08/07/2025: Two further letters withdrawing objections have been received (IN/OTH/08 and IN/OTH/09). Objectors were given the deadline of 5pm on 7 July 2025 to notify the Programme Officer of which sessions they intend to appear at this week and which of the Council’s witnesses they wish to cross-examine. As no notifications were received, the Inspector has revised and published a draft hearing programme (IN/INS/03e). It is anticipated that the Inspector will now close the inquiry on the morning of Wednesday 9 July.
• 08/07/2025: The Government made a public announcement regarding the allocation of funding to vital transport infrastructure projects across the Midlands. The Council submitted a note on that announcement to the inquiry (IN/LCC/13).
• 08/07/2025: A number of objectors have submitted documents. Wolfson Trago submitted a document (IN/OTH/04) and referred to it as a letter withdrawing its objection, however, given further consideration, it has been decided to rename the document as a position statement. Rontec has also submitted a position statement (IN/OTH/06) and Mr O’Boyle has withdrawn his objection (IN/OTH/07).
• 07/07/2025: Network Rail has submitted a letter withdrawing its objection to the Orders (IN/OTH/05).
• 07/07/2025: The Council submitted two further documents: Noise Proof of Evidence Note 1 (IN/LCC/11) and Planning Proof of Evidence Note 1 (IN/LCC/12).
• 07/07/2025: Wolfson Trago has submitted a letter formally withdrawing their objection to the Orders (IN/OTH/04).
• 03/07/2025: The itinerary for the Inspector’s site visit for 4 July 2025 has now been finalised (IN/LCC/10)
• 03/07/2025: The Inspector adjourned the inquiry at 11.20am until 10am on Tuesday 8 July 2025 and published a revised draft hearing programme (IN/INS/03d). It is programmed that site visits will take place on Friday 4 July 2025 (itinerary to follow).
• 03/07/2025: The Council submitted two further notes in relation to its evidence: Landscape Proof of Evidence Note 1 (IN/LCC/08) and Ecology Proof of Evidence Note 1 (IN/LCC/09)
• 02/07/2025: The Council submitted a note relating to a minor change to the air quality proof of evidence (IN/LCC/07)
• 02/07/2025: The Inspector adjourned the inquiry at 12:10pm on Wednesday 2 July 2025 until 10am on Thursday 3 July 2025.
• 02/07/2025: The Council also submitted Junction Modelling Note 1 (IN/LCC/06).
• 02/07/2025: During the opening of the inquiry the Council referred to newly published guidance (IN/LCC/05) in relation to national standards for sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) (2025).
• 01/07/2025: The Inspector formally opened the public inquiry at 10am and adjourned it at 12.30pm. To reflect the change, a revised draft hearing programme has been published (IN/INS/03b). The inquiry will resume at 10am Wednesday 2 July 2025.
• 01/07/2025: The Council submitted a note setting out the status of objectors (IN/LCC/04).
• 01/07/2025: The Inspector formally opened the Public Inquiry into the North Hykeham Relief Road. Lincolnshire County Council presented its opening statement (IN/LCC/03).
• 30/06/2025: Grange Farmers et al submitted a letter formally withdrawing their objection to the Orders (IN/OTH/02) as did Burgess (IN/OTH/03). As a result, a draft hear programme has been published (IN/INS/03a). Please keep checking this page for any further updates to the draft hearing programme.
• 27/06/2025: The Inspector has published a draft hearing programme (IN/INS/03). Objectors, please note that you must inform the Programme Officer by 5pm on Monday 7 July as to which of the Council’s witnesses you wish to cross-examine on Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 July.
• 26/06/2025: Quay Bronze has submitted a letter formally withdrawing their objection to the Orders (IN/OTH/01).
• 23/06/2025: The Council submitted a letter from the MoD Property Law team in relation to land interests (IN/LCC/02).
• 18/06/2025: Following the Case Management Conference held on 16 June 2025 the Inspector has published his note of the meeting (IN/INS/02).
• 12/06/2025: The Inspector has published the agenda for the pre-inquiry meeting (IN/INS/01).
• 02/06/2025: A pre-inquiry meeting is to be held at 10am Monday 16 June 2025. The meeting is the be held virtually.