Take a look at pictures of a major £57.4 million relief road which finally open in Northampton

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) finally opened the North West Relief Road (NWRR) on Wednesday (December 17).

The new route connects the A428 Harlestone Road with the A5199 Welford Road, near the Windhover pub. It also links with the Sandy Lane Relief Road which joins on to the A4500.

A WNC spokesman says the route creates “a much-needed link” over the railway line to “deliver an essential part of the Local Transport Plan and to support economic growth in Northampton”.

Reform councillor Richard Butler, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “Today’s opening of the NWRR is a major achievement which will be of great benefit to motorists and businesses in West Northants.

“We are very pleased that our partners took great pride in supporting us to deliver within the agreed programme and budget.

“They have had to use inventive solutions to address a whole host of challenges encountered throughout this incredibly complex scheme.

“It will ease pressure on our local roads, supports economic growth, and improve people’s journeys.”

Construction was completed at the end of August 2025 but the route has remained closed ever since. Months later, it was revealed that the road would open only after speed calming measures were installed in the village of Boughton, which were completed at the end of November.

A WNC spokesman said: “The NWRR was completed within the anticipated timescale despite significant hurdles such as the impact of inflation, Covid-19, the war in Ukraine and two extraordinary events of exceptional flooding in 2023 and 2024.”

The project included:

• The construction of 1.5km single carriageway which will be named Gorse Valley Way

• 400m of causeway – raised road across flood plain

• A new rail bridge in partnership with Network Rail

• A new bridge over the River Nene in partnership with the Environment Agency

• Five culverts

• Two roundabouts plus flood relief and storage

The road was funded through a partnership of SEMLEP (now the South Midlands Authorities), developers’ contributions, and council’s investment. It was delivered within the allocated budget of £57.4 million, according to WNC.

WNC voted to take out a £20 million loan in December 2021 to cover more than one-third of the bill following a shortfall in funding.

The northern section was constructed by Balfour Beatty on behalf of the Council whilst the southern section has been built by Persimmon Homes and Barratt David Wilson, as part of the new Harlestone Grange development.

According to WNC, key benefits include:

• Reduced congestion in north-west Northampton

• Improved access to the M1 and local business parks, including Lodge Farm and Round Spinney

• Enhanced journey times and reliability for motorists, public transport users, cyclists, and pedestrians

Former Conservative councillor Sam Rumens (Kingsthorpe North ward) has said previously, as well as other critics, that the road will not provide any relief at all.

Councillor Rumens said: “I am not convinced the NWRR will provide any relief to Kingsthorpe – in my view, it is merely an access road for housing.

“More fundamentally, we need to continue on the pathway to getting a proper orbital road built, most likely connecting the area near J16 of the M1 with the A43 around Moulton/Sywell.

“Northampton needs a proper orbital road system, and until it has one, our potential for economic growth will be held back, and both road users and others in Kingsthorpe and beyond will continue to suffer from increased pollution, congestion, and journey times.”

Works started on the road in March 2022. Phase one of the scheme, from the A428 to a roundabout near Grange Farm, just south of the railway line, was built by developers of Dallington Grange, Persimmon Homes. WNC built the next section of road across the railway line, which was completed in July 2024.

In autumn 2024, Persimmon Homes started works on the final phase of the NWRR, which runs from the Windhover pub in Kingsthorpe through to New Sandy Lane next to Harlestone Firs.

The final section, which runs through part of Harlestone Firs where 1,800 trees were felled to make way for it, was completed in August. Developers and the Althorp Estate say 8,000 new trees and shrubs have been replanted.

Just off the NWRR, construction continues on 3,000 homes at the Dallington Grange housing estate.

The NWRR scheme was recently named East Midlands Regional Winner in the Integration and Collaborative Working category at the 2025 Civil Engineering Awards.