Farmers whose land was taken to build a new A5 road have received letters from a Stormont department saying it has been returned and that they will be compensated.
It is unclear how much more this latest development will cost taxpayers.
It follows a judicial review in which the new ‘western transport corridor’ was blocked because the Department for Infrastructure failed to take into account its climate implications.
The 58 mile dual carriageway was first announced in 2007 to replace the original A5 on which the Department for Infrastructure says 57 people have died since 2006.
Plans for the £1.7 billion dual carriageway saw around 3,000 acres of private land vested between Aughnacloy and Derry.
Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said on July 1 she was “minded to appeal” the High Court decision blocking the project and would seek opinions from the Executive.
She added: “I am determined that this road will be built and it is important that everyone who wants to see this happen works together in a constructive way to achieve that goal. We owe it to the people who have sadly lost their lives on this road.”
Farmers land vested for A5 is to be handed back
But in a letter dated July 2, deputy director of the A5WTC project informed landowners that as of June 27 “ownership of the vested lands has now reverted to you and all other affected landowners”.
It added that DfI has “instructed its contractors to vacate the land” and that the department “will seek to agree reasonable costs for reinstatement of the vested land and compensation for use” from November 25, 2024 until the date it is vacated.
Stormont’s Infrastructure Committee was told in June that £110m has already been spent on the project, pre-construction.
Contractors have been on site for some time, clearing hedges, trees and moving earth in what is termed ‘preparatory works’.
Now it appears the decision to carry out this work ahead of a court challenge by the A5 Alliance could cost the department millions more with DfI outlining three paths forward.
They are:
- Fences and lands are left as they currently are until further decisions are made in relation to the project. Reasonable payment for continued loss of use of land.
- The department reinstate boundaries and lands in agreement with landowner.
- Payment to the landowner will be made in lieu of the department carrying out the reinstatement works.
The letter adds: “The department recognises the inconvenience and upheaval caused and DfI officials and their consultants will now arrange a meeting with all agents and representatives of the Ulster Farmers Union on 4 July 2025 to detail the department’s position and answer any immediate questions”.
“Meetings with individual landowners will take place as soon as practicable to discuss how they would like to proceed.”
DfI met with the Ulster Farmers’ Union on Wednesday to discuss next steps. UFU deputy president John McLenaghan said following the meeting that they’ve been left with “more questions than answers”.
He added: “The Ulster Farmers’ Union alongside land agents, welcomed the opportunity today to meet with the Department of Infrastructure and the Land and Property Services to discuss what happens next following the A5 High Court judgement.
“There are still more questions than answers, and our members need urgent responses so that we can all now move forward.”
The department has been contacted for comment.