Work can now start on improving the A614 and A6097 roads in north Nottinghamshire, as Mayor Claire Ward secures a multi-million-pound investment for the region.
The funding, which the Mayor formally agreed with the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Heidi Alexander at 10 Downing Street this week, will help tackle congestion and make journeys quicker and easier at key pinch points in Lowdham, Ollerton, and Blidworth.
These upgrades are a big step forward for Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands, with wide-ranging benefits for local people and communities.
Key benefits include:
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said:
“This project is a big win for our communities. I’m driving this investment because better transport means better lives. This multi-million investment we’re putting into the A614/A6097 corridor is a game changer for north Nottinghamshire. By tackling congestion at key pinch points in Edwinstowe, Lowdham, Ollerton, and Blidworth, we’re not only reducing journey delays and improving bus journeys, but we’re also making it quicker and easier for people to get where they need to be.
“That means more time for families, better access to work and services, and a real boost to productivity and well-being. This funding will significantly improve the daily lives of local residents, whilst opening up the potential for new homes and drive economic growth in the area.
“We’re laying the foundations for cleaner, greener, and more accessible travel, whether you’re walking, wheeling, cycling, or taking the bus. This is just one example of how we’re using our devolved powers to deliver real change for the people across the East Midlands.”
Councillor Mick Barton, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council said:
“This is excellent news for Nottinghamshire, and we are delighted that the scheme has now received approval from the Government.
“This approval marks a significant step forward for this county council-led scheme, with the final element of the funding coming off the back of a comprehensive full business case submitted by ourselves to the DfT.
“There is no doubt that these improvements are long-awaited for the people of Nottinghamshire and whether it is motorists, residents or the local economy – there are benefits for all.
“Anyone who has travelled along this route at peak times will know why this scheme is so important and that is why it is vitally important that we can now progress with this scheme to reduce congestion but also improve road safety.
“The scheme will unlock significant economic development along the route, including housing, and we are proud to be delivering improvements for the benefit of Nottinghamshire families and communities.
“We look forward to working with partners to make this scheme a reality for the benefit of our communities.”
This is major route and priority scheme for EMCCA and the Mayor, as it is a major travel corridor across a huge area of the region and will include improvements at a number of junctions, including Ollerton roundabout, Whitepost roundabout and Lowdham roundabout.
The scheme will support planned housing developments along the route in Edwinstowe, Ollerton, Blidworth and Newton (redevelopment of the former RAF site).
The £41.5 million improvements are being made with support from the Department for Transport (DfT), who are contributing £31.5 million – £24 million of that is from their Major Road Network Programme, £7.5 million is from East Midlands Combined County Authority using the DfT Transport to City Regions (TCR) funding and £10m is coming from Nottinghamshire County Council.
Work on the scheme is due to begin in January next year, with the improvements being delivered alongside new housing developments and economic growth plans.
This works towards the DfT’s Transport Investment Strategy (2017), “Moving Britain Ahead” which is about having road networks to connect communities to drive growth across the whole country.
Published on: 18 September 2025
Categories: Transport, Uncategorised