As things stand, the only thing stopping the contractors from starting construction at Stonehenge WHS in 2024 is the legal challenge.
2020, 12 November: Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary, approved the A303 Stonehenge scheme.
2021, 30 July: Decision for A303 Stonehenge road scheme in 2021 quashed by the High Court.
2023, 14 July: Mark Harper, Transport Secretary, approved virtually the same scheme on 14th July after a prolonged redetermination process. [1, 2]
2023, July: The independent legal team associated with the Stonehenge Alliance, Save Stonehenge WHS Ltd (SSWHS), immediately commissioned lawyers to challenge the decision. [3]
2023, August: SSWHS submitted case and await the High Court’s decision whether to proceed with a hearing. Expected soon. The grounds for the claim are here. [4]
2023, September: UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee met in Riyadh and stuck to its guns: they condemned the road scheme and threatened to place the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger if the road goes ahead. UK Government asked to report to the Committee by 1st February before taking action. [5]
2023, 4 August: The Development Consent Order for the A303 (Amesbury to Berwick Down) Development Consent Order 2023 came into force. [6]
2023, 17 August: The scheme promoter, National Highways, confirms it has let the contracts. Construction is expected to start in early Spring 2024 if the legal challenge is not accepted. [7]
2023, 12 December: Demonstration against Stonehenge road scheme to mark the start of the 3-day hearing: 12:45 for 30-45 minutes, pavement outside Royal Courts of Justice [9]
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LAST UPDATED: 29 NOVEMBER 2023
