The A303 at Stonehenge
The Trust’s position on the road scheme appears irrational under growing national and international opprobrium. Some 220,000 signatories worldwide are petitioning against a project involving two major junction interchanges and, within the WHS, deep tunnel approach cuttings removing 7–10 hectares of a WHS designated for its prehistoric archaeology. The Trust argues unrealistically that correct design and mitigation could minimise adverse impacts, saying the A303 severs and blights the WHS and the tunnel would make it easier to explore. But most of the WHS south of the A303 is privately-owned and inaccessible; and the 2020 Examining Authority’s report, recommending scheme refusal, found (Section 5.7):
‘Whilst the present road intrusion would be removed, … the aesthetic and spiritual damage would be profound and irreversible.’
'… the effects of the Proposed Development on WHS OUV [Outstanding Universal Value] and the historic environment as a whole would be significantly adverse. Irreversible harm would occur, affecting the criteria for which the Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated [Sites] World Heritage Site was inscribed on the World Heritage List.’
'… the Proposed Development would …inhibit access to the spirit and feeling of the WHS.’
'… harm to the overall assembly of monuments, sites, and landscape through major excavations and civil engineering works, of a scale not seen before at Stonehenge. Whilst the existing roads could be removed at any time, should a satisfactory scheme be put forward, leaving little permanent effect on the cultural heritage of the Stonehenge landscape, the effects of the proposed [Longbarrow] junction would be irreversible.’
A 2021 High Court judgment quashing the scheme ruled assessment of alternatives mandatory. Three UNESCO-backed specialist Advisory Missions to Stonehenge have urged less damaging options be sought; and UNESCO’s 2021 World Heritage Committee advised the WHS designation could be jeopardized unless the scheme is fundamentally amended. The Transport Secretary nevertheless intends to redetermine the project. National Highways’ application remains unchanged, still claiming overall heritage benefit to the WHS and dismissing alternatives without adequate explanation, including cheaper or non-road engineering options respecting climate change.
NOW the scheme’s impacts are better understood, shouldn’t the Trust reconsider its position? Major damage to a WHS contradicts the Charity’s founding purpose. The Trust’s recent Stonehenge property purchase includes land where probable remains of a rare Early Neolithic settlement would be destroyed for the eastern tunnel approach cutting. On another owner’s land, remains of a large Beaker-period settlement with burials would be destroyed for the western cutting. Some archaeological evidence would be recorded but most would be lost.
Instrumental to scheme implementation is the Trust’s agreement to acquisition of 41.62 hectares of inalienable, mostly subsoil, land for the tunnel. This land, secured via public subscriptions in the 1920s, is subject to a covenant preventing future development near the henge. Covenants may be broken but we hope that the Trust will honour the trust of those whose century-old foresight intended safeguards, rather than enabling irreparable damage to the WHS and loss of its designation.
Stonehenge is one of the world’s outstanding prehistoric monuments, situated within a rich archaeological landscape. The National Trust has been custodian of this landscape for nearly a century and takes its role extremely seriously.
The existing traffic-clogged A303 severely damages the World Heritage Site, impacting hundreds of ancient monuments. The road severs the landscape, is an obstacle to exploring the site and is dangerous to visitors. It severely harms the special qualities of the site. The current situation cannot continue. Many prominent voices, including UNESCO and its advisory bodies, have called for the removal of the current road, but for over 30 years these attempts have stalled.
Trustees therefore support the Government’s plan to remove most of the harmful existing A303 and place it in a fully bored tunnel of at least 3.3 km.
The Trust’s position is expert-led and evidence-based. Together with Historic England, Trust specialists have carried out and published four detailed heritage impact assessments using international guidance to inform our position.
We will continue to work closely with our partners to help inform and challenge National Highways to produce a high-quality solution that protects the Stonehenge World Heritage Site and finally addresses the major harm done to this exceptional place by the existing A303.
We recommend members vote against the resolution.
See next page for context >>
Finding a solution to the existing, damaging, surface road is complex, as UNESCO has acknowledged in its reports. Trustees understand and share the strong emotions people feel for Stonehenge and recognise that any change must be carefully considered. However, the long-term benefits of the tunnel project to people, history and wildlife are very significant.
The Secretary of State granted planning permission for the current scheme in 2020, but permission was later revoked in 2021 following a judicial review. The judicial review did not comment on the merits of the scheme, only the process by which the Secretary of State came to his decision.
The Government proposes to put the road into a 3.3 km tunnel deep underground, carefully positioned to conceal the key components from the wider landscape. This will remove the damaging sight and sound of vehicles from the surface and re-unite a blighted landscape currently cut in two by a major road.
This project represents a significant investment in the protection of cultural heritage. Far from eradicating archaeology, the route of the scheme has been carefully chosen to avoid it, and the bored tunnel is far underground to avoid all risk of damaging even deeply buried deposits. In areas outside the tunnel a comprehensive programme of archaeological fieldwork and research created with advice from leading independent experts, will be undertaken before works start on site. If archaeological remains are discovered they will be carefully excavated and analysed, with the records and finds deposited at the Salisbury Museum. National Highways has appointed a world-class archaeological contractor (Wessex Archaeology) for this work.
In place of the old road, a new Public Right of Way for walkers, cyclists and horse riders will be created. This will add to the existing 18km network of public paths, enabling people to enjoy the Stonehenge landscape in a more peaceful and historically accurate setting. Much of the land cared for by the National Trust is already permissive open access and following extensive chalk grassland habitat creation work, other areas will be opened up.
The difficult task of balancing planning issues and the overall benefit of the scheme is ultimately a job for Government. If planning permission is finally granted, we will work closely with the project to ensure the scheme is delivered to the highest standards possible and in line with all legal and planning requirements. We will continue to work closely with partners such as Historic England, English Heritage and Wiltshire Council to ensure that Government and National Highways deliver a scheme that benefits visitors and the World Heritage Site now and for future generations.
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