Funding could be delayed for Rugby's multi-million pound road revamp of Avon Mill and Hunters Lane

Warwickshire County Council’s bid to fund major road improvements in Rugby “might” be held up – by response times from the government department setting the deadlines.

The £23 million-plus Avon Mill and Hunters Lane improvement scheme was supported by the cabinet, the team of Conservative councillors in charge, in January, enabling professionals at the council to submit an outline business case for Department for Transport (DfT) funding to cover the vast majority of the bill – £17.8 million.

The plan is to enlarge the Avon Mill roundabout, widening its approaches and exits, create a new roundabout in place of the Newbold Road/Hunters Lane junction, make a dual carriageway to connect the roundabouts and put in place a new segregated foot and cycleway with a bridge over the river with particular focus on safe access to Avon Valley School.

A progress report for the county’s communities overview and scrutiny committee this week showed the project to be flagged as red with “high” risks in relation to technical, environmental and financial aspects.

The narrative states the council’s aim of submitting an outline business case this summer but “delays in DfT responding to prerequisite work and flood modelling suggest this might now be later”.

Tristan Hall, a member of the county’s project and programme management team, explained to councillors that time is of the essence.

He said: “We are seeking funding through the business case process from DfT and looking to submit the outline business case by the autumn.

“We need to ensure we are on site and starting work in March 2025 at the latest to secure that funding so there is some challenge around that.”

He referred to flood modelling being “more involved than we thought” but that its conclusion would “unlock other elements of the scheme”, including fixing a layout to move forward with things like planning permission so the authority is able to “move as quickly as possible” towards its DfT submission.

“They are well aware of this scheme and are encouraging us to make a submission,” he added, stating the council remains “determined” to meet its deadlines despite “a challenging timescale”.