A511 upgrades face December decision after £13m funding gap emerges

Planned A511 junction upgrades between Ashby and Field Head face a £13 million funding gap, with Leicestershire County Council’s cabinet expected to decide their future in December 2026.

The scheme is designed to ease congestion and support housing and business growth along the route from A42 junction 13 to the A50 Field Head roundabout. Councillors can proceed as planned, make savings by changing it, pause it or cancel it. Council officers have said that, if it goes ahead, the scheme would provide “high value for money” and help support growth in Coalville and the surrounding areas.

An updated estimate calculated in July puts the cost at £84.6 million, against £71.6 million in government and developer funding. Water and drainage problems and engineering work around the proposed Bardon Link Road have contributed to the higher cost. The council would have to cover the gap if it proceeds as planned.

At Flying Horse roundabout, the council proposes allowing drivers from Stanton Lane and Copt Oak Road to turn only left onto the A511. Drivers on the A511 could no longer turn right into Stanton Lane. A signal-controlled pedestrian crossing is also planned on Copt Oak Road.

The existing westbound right turn onto Broom Leys Road would also be removed, according to the council’s scheme overview.

At a scrutiny meeting on 5 November, Conservative Coalville North councillor Craig Smith said: “I can not stress enough what this will mean to the residents of Coalville.” Reform UK highways councillor Andrew Hamilton-Gray said he personally supported the scheme, but the decision was not his alone.

Council strategic financial manager Susan Baum said the authority faced an £85 million revenue gap and a £75 million capital gap, and would need to borrow if it could not fund the road scheme.

In July 2025, the government reconfirmed its contribution subject to approval of a final business case. The Department for Transport had provisionally allocated £41.7 million.

Questions or comments on the proposals can be emailed to [email protected].