---
title: "A38 Road Project Halted, Homeowners Express Outrage Over Taxpayer Waste"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/derby-a38-road-project-shelved-homeowner-complaints-jnw99
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Politics
published: 2026-08-13T12:00:23.282Z
modified: 2026-08-13T15:00:06.169Z
language: en-IN
---

# A38 Road Project Halted, Homeowners Express Outrage Over Taxpayer Waste

A woman forced to sell her home for a shelved A38 road expansion in Derby has called the project a "criminal waste of taxpayers' money." The government halted the scheme to reallocate funds for defense spending, leaving residents displaced.

## Key takeaways

- The A38 road expansion project in Derby has been halted by the government.
- Residents who were forced to sell their homes for the project are criticizing the decision as a waste of taxpayer money.
- The halt is part of a government plan to reallocate funds from road projects to defense spending.
- The process of compulsory purchase orders and property valuation disputes caused significant stress and health impacts for affected residents.
- A final decision on the A38 scheme's cancellation is reportedly still under consultation.

Gail Roberts, a resident of Queensway in Derby, has voiced strong criticism of the A38 road expansion project that led to her home being acquired via a compulsory purchase order. The government announced in June that the project, along with the A46 Newark Bypass, would be halted to fund an increase in defense spending. These schemes were reportedly not yet under contract and were less advanced than other road projects.

## What Happened

Roberts was the final resident of Queensway to leave her home, which was one of 15 properties purchased for the A38 upgrade. She described the situation as a "criminal waste of taxpayers' money" and expressed disbelief at the government's financial decisions. After hearing about the A38 proposals in 2012, Roberts and her husband received a compulsory purchase order in 2021. While many neighbors moved, Roberts remained, describing herself as "stuck in a lovely house in a derelict street." The dispute over her house's value lasted two years, and Roberts eventually accepted £40,000 less than an independent valuation. The stress of the situation reportedly impacted her health, with two neurologists linking her decline to the ongoing dispute. She and her husband have been living in a temporary bungalow in Ockbrook, Derbyshire, since autumn 2023, while continuing their search for a new home.

## Key Facts

- Gail Roberts and 14 neighbours were issued compulsory purchase orders for the A38 expansion project in Derby.
- The government announced in June it would halt the A38 Derby Junctions and A46 Newark Bypass schemes to increase defense spending.
- The Department for Transport stated these road projects had not yet entered contracts and were not as advanced as others.
- Roberts stated she accepted £40,000 less than an independent valuation for her house.
- Roberts reported experiencing health issues, including collapsing and temporarily losing the use of her legs, which neurologists linked to stress from the compulsory purchase dispute.
- Roberts and her husband have been temporarily living in Ockbrook, Derbyshire, since autumn 2023.
- National Highways indicated the potential cancellation of the A38 scheme is still under consultation, with no final decision made.

## Background

Roberts purchased her four-bedroom house in 2011 and spent two years renovating it. The compulsory purchase order was issued in 2021, creating a prolonged period of uncertainty and disruption for the remaining residents. The homes, described as "individually, architecturally designed," have remained empty for three years. Roberts questioned why these properties were not utilized, particularly given the existence of homelessness.

---
Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/derby-a38-road-project-shelved-homeowner-complaints-jnw99
Reported from: Multiple Sources