A10 Cambridge to Ely Upgrade Dropped from Government Plans 2026

Key Points

• The Department for Transport (DfT) has stripped the planned A10 enhancement scheme in the route from Cambridge to Ely off the Major Road Network and Large Local Majors (MRN/LLM) Programme.
• According to the government, the scheme has “less robust analysis to inform the department’s value for money assessment” and offers “lower value for money” compared to other schemes in England.
• The DfT explained that it does not have enough funding to dual the A10 in the route Cambridge to Ely.
• Lib Dem MP for Ely and East Cambridgeshire, Charlotte Cane, expressed disappointment over the decision and called upon the department to reconsider.
• Paul Bristow, Conservative Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, revealed that he would look for “alternative revenue sources” and keep on pushing for funding.
• The scheme had been “subject to review” in March after being left out of the list of 16 schemes that the DfT plans to fund.
• The DfT explained that stripping from the programme does not mean that the scheme cannot be considered again in the future with a convincing business case and proper funding programme.
• The decision has an impact on a highly congested single carriageway scheme that local leaders consider important for housing, employment.

Ely (Wales Times) October 16, 2026 – The proposed dualling of the A10 between Cambridge and uk/local/cardiff/ely/">Ely has been removed from a government list of potential road upgrades, after the Department for Transport said it could not fund the scheme.

As reported by the BBC, the DfT wrote to local politicians last week to confirm that the Ely to Cambridge A10 Improvement had been taken out of the Major Road Network and Large Local Majors Programme. The department said the proposed scheme offered “lower value for money” compared with other projects across England.

The government also said the project had “less robust analysis to inform the department’s value for money assessment”.

The decision means that the A10 scheme, which had been under review since March, will not progress under the current funding programme. The DfT said it did not have money available to pay for the road to be dualled between Cambridge and Ely.

What did the Department for Transport say?

In a statement reported by the BBC, the DfT said: “The previous [Conservative] government did not fund these projects.

“Given the challenging financial picture we inherited, we have had to make difficult decisions on a number of road projects and can only progress schemes that are affordable for taxpayers.”

The department said its decision did not permanently rule out the A10 improvement. According to the BBC, the letter to Charlotte Cane stated that the decision “does not prevent the scheme from being considered in the future”, provided there is “a compelling business case and an appropriate funding programme becomes available”.

The DfT’s position was also reported by Cambridge News, which said the department confirmed that funding had been withdrawn from the scheme to improve the A10 between Cambridge and Ely. Cambridge News reported that the DfT said the previous government “did not fund” the project and that it would prioritise schemes offering the best value for money.

What did Charlotte Cane say about the A10 decision?

Charlotte Cane, the Liberal Democrat MP for Ely and East Cambridgeshire, expressed disappointment at the announcement and urged the Department for Transport to reconsider.

As reported by the BBC, Cane said: “This road is one of the most critical in the area, yet it is congested and inadequate to support our expanding community.”

She said developments at Waterbeach and North East Cambridge were set to bring forward 11,000 homes and 20,000 jobs, and argued that both required reliable infrastructure.

“Improvements to the A10, including the dualling of the road, have been necessary for years, making it particularly shortsighted to dismiss these plans at such a crucial juncture for Cambridgeshire’s growth,” Cane said, according to the BBC.

How has Mayor Paul Bristow responded?

Paul Bristow, the Conservative Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, also said he was disappointed by the decision. He said he would look at “alternative revenue sources” to try to secure the upgrade.

As reported by the BBC, Bristow said:

“Our Local Growth Plan outlines how we can significantly enhance the regional economy, and these roads are essential infrastructure for that to happen.

“The government encourages growth, yet fails to provide funding for the infrastructure we require. I will not relent, and we will seek alternative revenue sources.”

He added that he planned to accept an invitation from the Roads Minister to meet officials and would continue to make the case for investment.

“I plan to accept the roads minister’s invitation for a meeting with officials, and we will continue advocating for their investment,” Bristow said. “However, actions speak louder than words.”

Highways Magazine also reported Bristow’s response, quoting him as saying that the need for A10 dualling between Ely and Cambridge was clear. It reported that he said people travelling to work, school and hospital were “losing too much time in queues”, and that the decision put a solution further away.

What is the Major Road Network programme?

The Major Road Network and Large Local Majors Programme is a Department for Transport funding programme for significant local road schemes in England.

In March, the DfT announced 16 projects across England that it would part-fund under the programme. The A10 Cambridge to Ely scheme was not among those projects and was instead placed “under review”.

As reported by Place North West, the government reviewed 41 projects that formed part of the Conservative government’s MRN/LLM Programme. It said 16 schemes were given the go-ahead, while others remained under review. The publication reported that the DfT later decided the business cases for 15 additional road schemes did not “stack up”, including the Ely to Cambridge A10 Improvement.

Highways Magazine reported that the DfT had axed at least 15 major road projects from the programme, with proposed investment worth around £2bn. The Ely to Cambridge A10 Improvement was listed among the schemes that would no longer progress.

What happens next for the A10 scheme?

The A10 project has not been ruled out permanently. The DfT said it could be considered again in future if a stronger business case is developed and an appropriate funding route becomes available.

For now, however, the scheme is no longer part of the government’s current MRN/LLM funding programme. Local political leaders have said they intend to continue campaigning for the upgrade and explore other possible funding options.

The decision leaves the future of the A10 dualling scheme uncertain, with no confirmed government funding programme currently attached to it.

Background of the development

The A10 between Cambridge and Ely is a busy route connecting the two cities. Local representatives have long raised concerns about congestion and capacity on the road, particularly as housing and employment growth continues in the wider Cambridgeshire area.

In March, the DfT published a list of 16 road projects across England that it would fund under the Major Road Network and Large Local Majors Programme. The proposed A10 Cambridge to Ely improvement was not included on that list and was instead placed under review.

The latest decision confirms that the scheme has now been removed from the programme altogether. The DfT said the decision reflected affordability pressures and concerns over the strength of the project’s value-for-money assessment, while leaving open the possibility of future consideration.

Prediction: How will this affect Cambridgeshire residents and commuters?

For commuters, businesses and residents who use the A10 between Cambridge and Ely, the immediate effect is that a major dualling scheme is no longer part of the government’s current funding plans. This means that relief from congestion on the route is likely to remain uncertain in the short term.

For people travelling between Cambridge, Ely and surrounding communities, the decision may prolong existing journey-time pressures, particularly during peak periods. Mayor Paul Bristow has argued that people travelling for work, school and hospital appointments already lose time in queues.

For housing and employment developments in the area, including those referenced by Charlotte Cane at Waterbeach and North East Cambridge, the decision could add pressure on local leaders to find alternative transport and infrastructure solutions. The scheme could still return if a stronger business case and a new funding programme are secured, but residents and commuters should not expect government-funded dualling to proceed under the current programme.