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The construction of this major infrastructure project is now underway, with some of the work taking place between our Crickley Hill and Barrow Wake reserves. Here we provide an overview of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust’s involvement to date, as well as some important information for visitors to our reserves.

GWT have been involved in discussions with National Highways since 2016, both as landowners affected by the scheme and as the county’s wildlife charity. With partner organisations National Trust and Cotswold National Landscape, we have secured positive changes to the scheme and improved protections for wildlife. However, we have consistently raised concerns about the overall biodiversity net loss that the scheme will cause and have been disappointed that this has not been given the consideration they deserve. Since the scheme was approved we have continued to meet with National Highways and Kier Highways, with representatives from across GWT ensuring our voice is heard in as any many forums as possible.

During the consultation process, GWT made numerous recommendations to improve the scheme’s impact on biodiversity which were not taken up in the final design. These included: • Identifying more ways to ensure the scheme delivered biodiversity net gain aligned with the Nature Recovery Network • Securing suitable new accessible green space to mitigate increased pressure on the Crickley Hill and Barrow Wake SSSI • Development of a plan to avoid species extinctions during the time between habitat being destroyed and replaced.

Despite the positive changes noted above, which included improved (although not ideal) wildlife crossings and attempts to reduce fragmentation of the SSSI, we remain concerned about the adverse impact the scheme will have on wildlife and ecological connectivity across the landscape. We recognise the attempts made by National Highways to improve protections for wildlife, however these fall considerably short of providing the biodiversity net gain that will soon be a legal requirement for projects like this. To us, this is a missed opportunity for National Highways to pave the way for future infrastructure projects and demonstrate how necessary infrastructure work can still deliver for wildlife.

As of Autumn 2023, GWT have outstanding areas of concern that relate to:

• The large biodiversity net loss that the scheme is set to deliver 
• Adverse impacts on the Crickley Hill and Barrow Wake SSSI

Unless changes are made to the design during the construction phase, we believe that the scheme could have a significant adverse impact on wildlife in the landscape. It also fails to fully reflect the aspirations of the government’s own 25 Year Environment Plan, which calls for net gain for wildlife.

We are passionate about our role in protecting the natural beauty, diverse wildlife and unique heritage of this important landscape and will continue to engage with National Highways and Kier Highways to ensure their commitments are delivered.