Ashbourne Bypass Plans Paused Due to Funding Challenges

As of September 29th, 2025, plans to create a £21m bypass around the town of Ashbourne in Derbyshire have been put on hold. Ground studies and traffic reports had been completed for the project, but it was confirmed at a recent Derbyshire County Council meeting that the development has been postponed due to uncertainty over funding.

The proposed route for the Ashbourne bypass was to stretch around the west of the town, running from the A52 near the town's recycling center and ending close to Callow Top Country Park. However, the previous Conservative administration had "paused" the project, according to the Reform-led authority's scrutiny committee.

While some locals, like Tim Baker from the Ashbourne Historical Centre, believe a bypass would be a good idea to alleviate heavy traffic through the town center, especially from HGVs in the summer, others are more skeptical. Tom Ertman, who runs a deli in Ashbourne, is concerned a bypass could reduce footfall and hurt local businesses.

Rather than move forward with the Ashbourne bypass, the council has instead prioritized plans for a bypass in the nearby town of Glapwell, near Chesterfield. The authority's executive director of place, Chris Henning, stated that difficult financial decisions had to be made, including whether to fund roads for relief or roads that provide access to jobs, housing, and investment opportunities.