Major highways projects and investment

A509 Isham bypass

The Isham Bypass scheme is for a proposed dual carriageway, starting from the Symmetry Park roundabout, running in a southerly direction west of the village of Isham, and re-joining the A509 Kettering Road midway between Hill Top and Great Harrowden.

This will reduce congestion on the A509, improve transport links between Kettering and Wellingborough by helping to meet the needs of growth in the two towns, improve access from Wellingborough to the A14, and relieve some through traffic.

There will be roundabout junctions at the:

• existing A509 Kettering Road (the Symmetry Park roundabout), south of the A14 Pytchley roundabout
• B574 Hill Top Road

The A509 is an important primary route in Northamptonshire providing a north / south link between the A14 and A45 trunk roads, serving Kettering and Wellingborough and destinations towards the southwest.

Benefits of the scheme

The bypass will:

• reduce congestion on the existing A509 through the village of Isham
• improve transport links between Kettering and Wellingborough by helping to meet the needs of growth in the two towns and
• improve access from Wellingborough to the A14

Planning application

The planning application was submitted on 22 July 2024 and is available to view in the Wellingborough section of the council’s planning portal under reference NW/24/00418/FUL.

Outline business case

The Outline Business Case for the bypass, a key part of obtaining Government funding towards the scheme, was submitted to the Department for Transport in November 2024. The Department for Transport have since been reviewing the information contained.

Department for Transport review

In July 2025, the Secretary of State for Transport announced that Isham Bypass was one of a number of schemes nationally which were to be reviewed to determine if they could still be funded.

Next steps

If planning permission is granted, and further funding obtained from the Department for Transport, we will publish a Compulsory Purchase Order to acquire the land for the scheme to support negotiations with landowners.

If there are objections to the Compulsory Purchase Order, the Government will appoint an Inspector who will hold a public inquiry, and then the Inspector will report to the Secretary of State who will make the decision.

While all this is happening, the detailed designs for the bypass will be developed, so that once the Compulsory Purchase Order is confirmed, a tender price for the scheme can be sought from contractor(s).

If the Department for Transport agree to fund the scheme and the project progresses as expected, it is currently forecast that construction of the bypass would begin early in 2028, with the new road opening by the end of 2029.

Subject to timely receipt of the various approvals, and no further changes in process / requirements, the summary programme is:

• Strategic Outline Business Case - complete
• Preferred route amended - complete
• Public consultation - complete
• Outline Business Case submission - complete
• Planning application submission - complete
• Compulsory Purchase Order publication - Spring 2026
• Compulsory Purchase Order decision - Spring 2027
• Full Business Case submission - Summer 2027
• Start of works - Early 2028
• Road opening - End 2029

To get updates on the Isham Bypass scheme, please e-mail [email protected] with your name, address, e-mail and phone number.

Last updated 22 September 2025