A50 A500 Corridor 2025-10-20

Opened the debate

I refer the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. I am grateful for the opportunity to raise the important issue of the A50/A500 corridor, a route that is vital to our industry and people in both Staffordshire and the wider midlands. This corridor connects communities, links manufacturers to markets, and sustains thousands of jobs across the Midlands. Every day, more than 60,000 vehicles travel along it, moving goods between Derby, Uttoxeter, Stoke-on-Trent, and major motorways like the M1 and M6. It serves businesses such as JCB, Toyota, and Rolls-Royce and supports local universities and tourist attractions. Congestion around Uttoxeter undermines productivity and growth, turning commutes into nightmares with queues stretching for miles at peak hours. Improvements to this corridor could create over 2,000 jobs across Staffordshire by 2031, generating £116 million in economic benefits. The A50/A500 is vital not only for my constituency but also for neighbouring constituencies and the wider Midlands region.

Government Response

I congratulate Jacob Collier on securing this debate. This Government understands the significance of transport to local economies across the country. The A50 near Uttoxeter is crucial for linking areas with rich industrial histories and new technologies, supporting key priorities such as economic growth, housing development, and regional inequality reduction. June’s spending review confirmed £2.3 billion in local transport investment through the local transport grant. Staffordshire county council will receive a total of £92.98 million between 2026-27 and 2029-30 for capital allocation, with an additional £3.39 million for resource funding. This vital funding will support local capability to develop transport infrastructure priorities and work on regional needs. We acknowledge the difficult challenges that congestion and uncertain journey times on key routes may cause for businesses and commuters, as well as the potential impact that this may have on growth, investment and employment. Through our growth mission we will rebuild Britain, delivering new homes and the critical infrastructure that underpins economic growth. In August the Department for Transport published its draft road investment strategy, which set out the Government’s strategic objectives and included just under £25 billion of indicative funding for the operation, maintenance and renewal of our strategic road network and for the RIS3 period covering the period from 2026 to 2031. As part of the road investment strategy, the Department continues to consider improvements to the central section of the A50 near Uttoxeter, as well as junction 15 of the M6, as part of the pipeline of projects being developed for possible delivery in a future road investment strategy... National Highways is committed to continuing to develop these proposals, and, subject to a supportive business case, they will be considered for delivery within RIS4, beyond 2031—or late in RIS3, if funding becomes available. Let me end by thanking my hon. Friend the Member for Burton and Uttoxeter for securing the debate. As I know he appreciates, transport plays a central role in lives and livelihoods across the country, including his constituency and the wider midlands. Today he has highlighted several important issues relating to Uttoxeter in particular. I want to reassure the House that the Government are providing record levels of investment in roads, rail, buses and active travel projects across the country to connect people with jobs, education and opportunities. I also want to reassure my hon. Friend that the Government have heard the case clearly, and will continue to take action to address the issues debated today.