National Highways has announced that, with the support from Government, it will not be submitting the Development Consent Order application for the A358 Taunton to Southfields Dualling Scheme as planned this year.

The plan had been to dual eight and a half miles of single carriageway which is often congested and leads to drivers seeking alternative routes through villages.

However, for the second time a DCO application has been delayed. Last December the application process was paused while National Highways reviewed the appropriateness of the environmental mitigations proposed for the project.

It says it is working with Government on the next steps and will continue to work with impacted landowners and communities to resolve any outstanding queries they may have regarding the current scheme proposal.

(Picture – National Highways)