Council reviews spending on major ring road scheme

Funding for the York Outer Ring Road project has been pushed back two years, after a council launched a review of the £65m scheme.

City of York Council budgets show funding for the major scheme had been allocated up until 2029, with it previously budgeted only until 2027.

It comes alongside a government review of spending on transport projects, which included £25m of funding for the ring road.

When asked by the Local Democracy Reporting Service , the council did not confirm whether the project would be completed by 2029.

The ring road aims to cut congestion in York city centre by expanding the route's capacity through dualling and upgrading roundabouts.

James Gilchrist, the authority's director of environment, transport and planning, said: "The review will help inform the required update to the business case for funders and the best way for the project to progress through to delivery."

Council figures showed almost £21.5m of money originally due to be spent on the project this financial year had been pushed back.

Most of the spending - £22.4m - was now budgeted for 2026-7.

'Difficult financial situation'

It comes as the council cut about £81.7m from its capital spending budget this financial year.

Council finance lead Katie Lomas told an executive meeting: "We're taking a really careful approach to the capital programme to look at what is needed, but we remain ambitious for the city in a difficult financial situation."

Councillor Nigel Ayre, Liberal Democrat opposition leader, said there was a danger that delaying spending could push up the final cost of the project due to inflation.

"We were not aware the scheme is under threat, we'd ask for a commitment for that scheme to be delivered by 2029," he said.

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