Coventry residents will wait longer than planned for major transport schemes

Almost half the projects listed by the council in 2022 are delayed


The ticket office at Tile Hill station is one set to be axed

People in Coventry are set to wait longer for major changes to roads, rail and buses. Almost half the city's key transport projects will take more time than planned two years ago.

Upgrades to junctions, improvements to buses and cycling, and futuristic light rail and charging projects are affected. Details of the delays are revealed in council meeting papers.

The council is seeking to make changes to a list of 60 transport projects it set out in 2022. This document shows the schemes developed by the council and other groups that will affect the city over the next 15 years.

It has details of how long each project will be in development and when work to roll them out will start and finish. But the council's latest update will see timescales changed and five projects added to reflect its latest plans.

We compared the 2022 and 2024 list of schemes and found that 30 of the original 60 projects will take longer to develop and/or deliver than planned. Details of exactly what is changing can be found below.

Councillors will be asked to formally agree the changes at meetings in the coming weeks. More than two-thirds, 21, of the delayed schemes are being led by the council and it is the main partner for five others.

The LDRS asked the council and other groups involved with the projects for comment. In a statement National Highways said: "As part of assessing options for Walgrave junction, we needed to ensure that the design met the needs of road users and the community whilst providing value for money. Investigating a variety of designs added to the development time for the scheme and this, along with the time needed to negotiate a contract with our suppliers, impacted proposed start of work dates.

"Between October and December last year the proposed new look junction – known as a grade separated junction – was taken to public consultation which showed two thirds of people were in favour of improvements. This junction allows for a free flowing A46 carriageway while also enabling road users to enter and exit the local road network.

"Start of work is now scheduled for late 2026, subject to government funding." Rugby Borough Council is only involved in the Ansty scheme as the local planning authority, meaning it if the scheme develops it would consider any application against relevant policies.

In January, Transport for West Midlands announced it is working with regional and national groups on a "smart ticketing solution" for buses and trams, with a group to meet four times a year. Last year it reallocated almost half the funding from an £88 million bus service improvement plan which it said would avoid bus services being withdrawn.