Plans to improve M1 junction in 'early stages'

National Highways is in the "early stages" of exploring ways to improve "safety and travel times" at a motorway junction in Derbyshire.

The organisation, which maintains motorways and major A roads in the UK, said it was seeking to "develop solutions" to benefit all road s at junction 28 of the M1 in South Normanton.

This comes after transport focused group Midlands Connect said there could be more than 80,000 additional journeys a week at the junction in 2035.

National Highways said it was awaiting the results of a government spending review for a longer-term strategy after it received a £4.8bn interim settlement from the Department for Transport for 2025/26.

Midlands Connect said data showed there could be 81,830 extra trips a week using junction 28 of the M1 in 2035 due to the potential increase in the number of homes and jobs in the area.

The organisation, which is made up of local authorities, businesses and representatives of government bodies, said "rat-running" through nearby towns and villages would be reduced if repairs were carried out.

MPs, councils and businesses have asked for the project to be included in the government's Road Investment Strategies (RIS), Midlands Connect said.

Bolsover MP Natalie Fleet said upgrades to the junction were "essential" and added she would "continue to press" the government to make the improvements.

The government said it would fund works on motorways and major A roads by providing an interim settlement of £4.8bn to National Highways in 2025/26 while a new longer term strategy is agreed.

Councillor Rob Reaney, deputy leader of Derbyshire County Council said the junction was at "maximum capacity".

"This problem isn't going away and it's clear that extra investment is needed now to keep pace with the level of economic development, in the area in the future," he said.

National Highways head of planning and development, Kamaljit Khokhar, said the body was "always looking" at ways to improve journeys.

"Working closely with Midlands Connect, we continue to a strategic approach to long-term investment as we seek to develop solutions to benefit all road s," he added.

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