The A1 in Northumberland: Morpeth to Ellingham Development Consent (Revocation) Order 2025
The Secretary of State for Transport formally revoked the A1 in Northumberland: Morpeth to Ellingham Development Consent Order 2024, making the revocation effective from November 14th, 2025.
This Order formally revokes the A1 in Northumberland: Morpeth to Ellingham Development Consent Order 2024 under the authority granted by the Planning Act 2008, following the Secretary of State determining that exceptional circumstances warranted discontinuation of the development consent without a formal application for revocation being submitted.
Arguments For
The revocation allows the government to formally change strategic infrastructure priorities for the A1 corridor, potentially reallocating resources or seeking alternative solutions in light of new evidence or circumstances.
Exercising the power to revoke without a formal application streamlines the process when exceptional circumstances justify stopping a previously approved nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP).
Adherence to established regulations, specifically the Infrastructure Planning (Changes to, and Revocation of, Development Consent Orders) Regulations 2011, ensures the process has a clear legal and procedural basis.
Arguments Against
Halting a Development Consent Order (DCO) that has already been granted can lead to wasted initial investment, planning costs, and delays for the region dependent on the road improvement.
The decision may face scrutiny regarding what constitutes 'exceptional circumstances' justifying the cancellation of a major infrastructure scheme without a new formal application process.
Local stakeholders, businesses, and residents who planned around the original DCO completion schedule may face disruption or uncertainty due to the sudden reversal of the project.
The Secretary of State, in accordance with the Infrastructure Planning (Changes to, and Revocation of, Development Consent Orders) Regulations 2011¹ , gave notice of the intention to consider making an Order to revoke the A1 in Northumberland: Morpeth to Ellingham Development Consent Order 2024² .
The responsible Secretary of State announced their intention to end the previously granted Development Consent Order (DCO) for the A1 road scheme between Morpeth and Ellingham in Northumberland.
This action follows the established legal procedure outlined in the 2011 regulations concerning changes to and revocation of DCOs.
The Secretary of State, having considered the responses to the publicity carried out in accordance with regulations 55 and 56 of the Infrastructure Planning (Changes to, and Revocation of, Development Consent Orders) Regulations 2011, has decided that there are exceptional circumstances that make it appropriate to exercise the power to make this Order revoking the A1 in Northumberland: Morpeth to Ellingham Development Consent Order 2024 without an application to do so being made.
After reviewing public feedback gathered via required publicity steps, the Secretary of State concluded that unique or unusual conditions exist.
These 'exceptional circumstances' justify using the power to issue a revocation order directly, bypassing the need for the original promoter to submit a formal application seeking revocation.
The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred by paragraph 3(1) and (7)(b) of Schedule 6 to the Planning Act 2008³ , makes the following Order.
The Secretary of State officially enacts this revocation using specific legal powers (paragraphs 3(1) and (7)(b) of Schedule 6) provided under the Planning Act 2008, which governs the creation and modification of nationally significant infrastructure projects.
- Citation and commencement
This Order may be cited as the A1 in Northumberland: Morpeth to Ellingham Development Consent (Revocation) Order 2025 and comes into force on 14th November 2025.
This instrument is officially named the A1 in Northumberland: Morpeth to Ellingham Development Consent (Revocation) Order 2025.
The revocation legally takes effect on November 14th, 2025.
- Revocation
The A1 in Northumberland: Morpeth to Ellingham Development Consent Order 2024 is revoked.
This Article confirms the central action: the previous Development Consent Order granted in 2024 for the A1 road scheme between Morpeth and Ellingham is now legally cancelled.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
Marco Picardi
Head of the Transport and Works Act Orders Unit
Department for Transport
13th November 2025
The document is officially signed by Marco Picardi, acting under the authority of the Secretary of State for Transport, in their capacity as Head of the Transport and Works Act Orders Unit, on November 13, 2025.
Explanatory Note (This note is not part of the Order)
This Order revokes the A1 in Northumberland: Morpeth to Ellingham Development Consent Order 2024 (“the DCO”), a Development Consent Order made under the Planning Act 2008 (“the Act”). This Order follows the Secretary of State giving notice of an intention to revoke the DCO pursuant to paragraph 3(7)(b) of Schedule 6 to the Act.
The note clarifies that this Order formally cancels the 2024 DCO granted under the 2008 Planning Act.
This legislative step fulfills the intention previously announced by the Secretary of State, specifically utilizing the power cited in paragraph 3(7)(b) of Schedule 6 of the Act.
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