Kendal Northern Access Route rejected: council challenges decision and keeps relief road hopes alive

Westmorland and Furness Council is seeking to challenge the government’s decision to leave the Kendal Northern Access Route out of its road and rail investment programme.

The council said on 12 October 2026 that it was disappointed by the decision, but confirmed that the proposed route remains a long-term aspiration for the administration. It has asked to meet the Department for Transport to discuss the reasons behind the decision.

Why the route matters to Kendal

The proposed Kendal Northern Access Route, also known as the Relief Road, would have been a single-carriageway road to the north of Kendal, linking the A591 with the A6.

According to the council, the route was intended to reduce congestion in Kendal town centre, improve air quality and support economic growth by creating new access to employment areas. It also said the scheme would improve the resilience of the local highway network.

That resilience would be particularly important when the M6 is closed. Diverted motorway traffic can then be sent through Kendal, causing significant congestion in the town. The council said the route would have helped the town cope with those traffic pressures.

Council response and next steps

Councillor Peter Thornton, Cabinet Member for Highways and ICT, described the government’s decision as extremely disappointing. He said the route would have strengthened Kendal’s transport network during diversions from the M6, while also bringing improvements to congestion and air quality in the historic town.

The council noted that the minister had said the decision did not prevent the scheme from being considered in the future. That means the route has not been ruled out permanently, although it will not form part of the current road and rail investment programme.

Westmorland and Furness Council said it would continue working with partners, including Kendal Futures, to find ways to improve the resilience of Kendal’s transport network. It also pointed to other transport projects and services, including Grizebeck, the A66 dualling, support for bus services and Active Travel schemes.

For Kendal residents and businesses, the decision leaves the proposed northern connection without a place in the government’s current investment programme, while the council continues to pursue discussions about its future.