2026 is 'make or break' for Moor Farm roundabout upgrades in Northumberland
Crucial Government decision expected this spring for long-awaited improvements
This year could determine the fate of long-awaited upgrades to Moor Farm roundabout in Northumberland, with a government decision on funding expected in spring.
Northumberland County Council’s deputy leader Richard Wearmouth has described 2026 as a “make or break” year for the project, which has seen years of debate over plans to improve the busy junction. He expressed hope that the scheme may finally receive approval in the next phase of the Government’s Road Investment Strategy.
Wearmouth said: “The story regarding Moor Farm upgrade works is complicated, but one thing is clear: 2026 will be a make or break year for this urgently needed investment.
“Northumberland County Council understands that a government decision will be made sometime in spring 2026 on whether the project will get funding. However even if that happens it would only see the project put into a national programme starting in 2031 called RIS4. That’s far too late for us.”
He proposed working with regional bodies to accelerate the process and suggested using regional funds for early development, with later reimbursement from the Government. Wearmouth also committed to lobbying the planning committee for approval of projects that could create jobs, despite opposition from National Highways.
National Highways has raised four objections to regional development schemes due to high traffic levels at Moor Farm. The organisation had previously labelled the project “poor value for money.”
MP Emma Foody of Cramlington and Killingworth has also highlighted the importance of upgrading the roundabout, referring to it as “a blocker to growth and a blocker to opportunity.” Foody believes that recent changes to the Government’s Green Book assessment, which evaluates infrastructure projects, improve the chances of approval. These reforms prioritise local impact and transformative benefits over traditional cost-benefit analyses.
A Freedom of Information Request revealed the upgrades to Moor Farm and nearby Seaton Burn would cost between £300 million and £775 million. The most costly option included building a grade-separated junction at Seaton Burn and expanding the roundabout at Moor Farm with an elevated road for the A19.
The cheapest option focused on improved signage, lane designation, and road alterations at both sites to address traffic and collision issues.
The outcome of the Government’s decision this spring will determine whether the proposed upgrades move forward and if funding timelines can be accelerated for the project to avoid further delays.