Fifteen homes on Queensway in Derby, purchased by National Highways for over £6 million for a now-scrapped A38 expansion project, have remained empty and boarded up for the past ten years. The houses, which range from four to six bedrooms, were acquired to make way for a £600 million road widening scheme that would have included flyovers and underpasses at three roundabouts.
Plans for the A38 expansion were first proposed 25 years ago but faced numerous delays due to legal challenges and protests. While residents were forced to sell their properties, often at reduced prices, the project's cancellation was confirmed earlier this month. The government cited the need to reallocate funds for increased defense spending as the reason for the potential scrapping of the scheme. This decision has led to anger among former residents who feel their displacement was in vain.
John Jerram, 88, and his wife Dorothy, 85, who sold their home of 18 years in 2020, expressed heartbreak at passing their former property. "It breaks my heart every time I go past. We had a beautiful garden and a greenhouse and everything," Mr. Jerram stated, adding that they received a small amount of compensation. Kerry Toolan, a former resident, described the situation as a "ridiculous waste of time and money," noting that millions more were spent on preparatory work while they still lived there.
Gail Roberts, 67, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, was the last resident to leave her home. After a lengthy dispute, she reached an agreement with National Highways in 2023, having viewed 92 alternative properties. She called the project a "criminal waste of taxpayers money," encompassing not only the home acquisitions but also extensive consultations.
The A38 expansion plans had faced opposition from environmental campaigners who argued it would lead to the destruction of woodland, increased carbon emissions, and poorer air quality. Although a revised scheme gained approval, its potential cancellation is now part of a broader government review of the third Road Investment Strategy, which aims to save up to £700 million from road funding for the Defense Improvement Plan. The Department for Transport has stated that consultations will be conducted before any final decisions are made regarding the road scheme and the fate of the empty properties.
East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward criticized the potential cancellation, stating that the East Midlands region is being disproportionately asked to absorb the financial cuts. "The East Midlands will play its part in delivering a safer world – we have strengths in defence and will be investing into those alongside the government. But people working in defence need good roads so that their staff can get to work, access their supply chains, and trade. We will not serve our defence sector well if we under invest into its enabling infrastructure," she said.
Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council, acknowledged that the A38 project remained divisive in Derby and agreed that the public should have another say, given the significant changes over the past 25 years. Meanwhile, campaign groups like the Stop The A38 Expansion group and Transport Action Network welcomed the prospect of cancellation, citing the environmental and economic harms the scheme would have caused.