About the Norwich Western Link
The need for a Norwich Western Link
Through our Norwich Western Link project we're aiming to tackle transport issues that exist to the west of Norwich and improve travel between Broadland Northway (formerly the Northern Distributor Road) and the A47.
Since Broadland Northway's construction, there have been ongoing calls to complete this 'missing link' due to persistent traffic congestion, delays, and unreliable journey times in the area to the west of Norwich. More than 30,000 journeys a day are made through this corridor, often on narrow rural roads and through residential communities, creating knock-on negative impacts including safety concerns, queuing traffic and reduced opportunities for walking and cycling.
The traffic issues also affect access to key sites like the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and Norwich Airport, and hampers business productivity and holds back Norfolk's economy.
These issues are expected to worsen with projected growth in population and employment, as outlined in the Greater Norwich Local Plan, which is targeting creating 33,000 new jobs and 40,000 homes between 2018 and 2038. This is why addressing these challenges through our Norwich Western Link project is one of the council's key priorities.
History
Norfolk County Council previously submitted a planning application for a 3.9-mile dual carriageway road to be built between the A47 and Broadland Northway. However, this was withdrawn in January 2025 after we were unable to resolve an objection from Natural England.
The objection related to barbastelle bats, which are present in the area to the west of Norwich, and it wasn't until Natural England published new guidance relating to this species of bat, days before the planning application was due to be submitted, that we became aware that there was a significant impediment to delivering the previous route.
More information on this previous preferred option for the Norwich Western Link and the issue that led to the withdrawal of the planning application can be found in a report to our cabinet from December 2024, from p40 onwards.
What is the status of the project now?
After the planning application was withdrawn, we entered into discussions with the Department for Transport over the next steps for the project.
They have confirmed that the previously agreed Strategic Outline Business Case for the project does not need to be resubmitted and that they will, in principle and subject to the completion of DfT processes, fund two-thirds of the overall estimated cost of £1.43 million of updated work to assess potential options that could be delivered through our Norwich Western Link project.
Options assessment
Our options assessment work will be informed by lots of things, including how effective the options are at achieving the project objectives, constraints in the area that we need to take into account and how deliverable we think they will be.
Types of options that will be assessed include:
- Minor improvements to the existing road network;
- Public transport and active travel proposals;
- Improvements to the existing B-road from Wood Lane to Lenwade;
- Possible new single carriageway solutions;
- Possible new dual carriageway solutions.
Input from Natural England will continue to be sought throughout the options assessment work, to give us confidence that any shortlisted options are likely to be acceptable to them.
Based on engagement with them since publication of the new guidance for barbastelle bats, and their comments on the previous planning application proposals, it is highly unlikely that a dual carriageway route or a viaduct across the River Wensum would be acceptable. This will be factored into the options assessment work alongside other information, including other knowledge gained through work on the project to date.
We intend to carry out a public consultation on a shortlist of options and report the results of this, together with the outcome of our wider options assessment work, to our cabinet in 2026. Depending on the outcome of this work, we may also recommend a preferred option for a Norwich Western Link at that stage.
Project Objectives
We want the project to achieve the following strategic priorities:
- Support sustainable economic growth
- Improve the quality of life for local communities
- Minimise the impact on the environment and aim to enhance the environment
- Improve strategic connectivity with the national road network
And we also want the project to achieve the following specific objectives:
- Improve connectivity and journey times on key routes within the Greater Norwich area
- Reduce the impact of traffic on people and places within the western area of Greater Norwich
- Encourage and support walking, cycling and public transport use in Greater Norwich
- Improve safety on and near the road network, especially for pedestrians and cyclists
- Seek to avoid harm to the natural and built environment, where this is not practicable minimise harm and where that is not practicable provide appropriate compensation
- Take advantage of opportunities to enhance the environment
- Improve accessibility to key sites in Greater Norwich
These project objectives were originally developed with input from local community representatives. They were reviewed and minor updates were made ahead of the new options assessment work in 2025.
