Staffordshire MP urges for A50/A500 road scheme upgrades

A Staffordshire MP has urged the Chancellor to back a £1.6 billion road scheme ahead of the spending review. Jacob Collier, MP for Burton and Uttoxeter has reiterated the need for upgrades to the A50/A500 corridor, which he says could create 39,000 jobs. 

The letter has also been backed by several businesses, universities and local authorities and five Staffordshire MPs.

Several upgrades to improve the corridor have been identified by Midlands Connect. Improvements to the roads, as part of the Fifty500 Investment scheme, would enhance the current transport links and connectivity, aiming to reduce the congestion at certain pinch points. Investment would also help make parts of the corridor safer for pedestrians.

The letter states: “The A50/A500 corridor is a critical economic artery, supporting major employers such as JCB, Rolls-Royce, Toyota, Nestlé, Bentley, AstraZeneca, Michelin Tyres, and Steelite. It also connects five leading universities—Staffordshire, Keele, Nottingham, Nottingham Trent, and Derby—ensuring a strong pipeline of research, innovation, and skilled workers essential for the region’s success.

“According to Midlands Connect and the Fifty500 Midlands Growth Corridor Commission, improvements to the A50/A500 corridor are estimated to unlock around £12 billion in economic growth over the next 60 years, with potential for significant job creation and increased Gross Value Added (GVA) in the region.”

He adds that “investing in this route would unlock substantial economic benefits”, including:

The creation of up to 39,000 new jobs by 2045

The development of up to 67,000 additional homes by 2045

A projected average annual economic growth rate of 1.6% until 2070, with the corridor’s economy expected to double in size

An estimated £1.6 billion investment generating £27 billion in economic value, equivalent to the entire economy of Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire

Regeneration opportunities identified in the Uttoxeter Masterplan

Improved connectivity for communities in Stoke-on-Trent and Derby, enhancing productivity in areas of significant deprivation

The spending review is the process the government uses to set all departments’ budgets for future years. The review will be delivered 11 June and will be the first multiyear review for the Labour government.