Costain selected for major road scheme supporting Norfolk housing growth

Costain has been appointed by Norfolk County Council to complete the detailed design and construction of a new road scheme intended to unlock a major housing development area near King's Lynn.

image (cgi): Norfolk County Council

The contractor will deliver the West Winch Housing Access Road, a 2.4km-long route connecting the A47 with the existing A10. The project is designed to support the planned development of up to 4,000 new homes in the West Winch Growth Area, south of King's Lynn.

The road forms a key element of a wider £122m infrastructure programme aimed at improving transport connectivity and accommodating future housing growth in the region. Once completed, the new route will become part of the A10 road network.

In addition to the new link road, the scheme includes the construction of new roundabouts providing access to future housing developments, a dedicated cycle path alongside the route and the dualling of just under one mile of the A47 trunk road.

Norfolk County Council said the project is intended to reduce congestion in West Winch village, improve journey reliability and create the transport infrastructure required to support long-term economic and residential growth in the area.

Costain will begin detailed design work during 2026, with construction expected to commence in 2027. The company said it will work closely with supply chain partners and stakeholders throughout the development phase to refine the design and prepare the scheme for delivery.

Andy Denman, Road Sector Director at Costain, said the project would improve local connectivity while supporting economic development and new housing provision. He added that the company would focus on integrating construction expertise into the design process to improve efficiency and reduce project risks.

The West Winch Housing Access Road has been under development for several years and has received support through national infrastructure and housing growth programmes. Local authorities consider the scheme essential to enabling planned residential expansion while addressing existing traffic pressures on the local road network.

The appointment reflects continued investment in transport infrastructure linked to housing growth, where local authorities are increasingly seeking to deliver roads, utilities and public services ahead of large-scale residential development.