Families devastated after homes taken for A1 road that was never built are speaking out against what they call years of unnecessary trauma. The project to widen a section of the A1 in Northumberland was cancelled in 2024, but not before residents lost cherished properties and saw them left to decay.
In total, National Highways spent over £4 million buying homes and land for the project. These include Northgate House, East Cottage, and the historic Charlton Mires farmhouse. All now sit abandoned.
Martin Beal, whose family lived at Charlton Mires since 1904, said losing the home was “very painful.” He described nights of anxiety and guilt, unable to stop the forced sale. “There are just so many memories in there,” he said. “I felt like I’d let my family down.”
The home now faces demolition, despite the project’s cancellation. Planning regulations require its removal before Beal can build a replacement nearby—costing the taxpayer around £100,000. “It’s a beautiful 200-year-old house,” he said. “It’s just ridiculous.”
Julian and Melanie Wensby-Scott were also displaced. Their property, Northgate House, became a construction site in 2019 when they were forced out. Melanie recalled crying as workers boarded up windows before she had even finished packing. “It felt like an eviction,” she said.
The house now stands empty and deteriorating. “We had no intention of ever leaving,” said Melanie. “We’d just put in a new kitchen and were planning a conservatory.”
Felicity and James Hester, forced from East Cottage, faced a long and stressful search for a new home. With no local options, they moved to Cumbria, hours away from their friends and community. “It was a nightmare,” said Mrs Hester. “We went through years of hell.”
A freedom of information request revealed more than £68 million has already been spent on the A1 project. That figure continues to grow by nearly £30,000 monthly, covering council tax, insurance, and upkeep on unused properties.
Land agent Louis Fell, who represented the displaced families, called the situation “a mess.” He urged National Highways to consider renovating and renting the homes. “To leave them rotting is a waste,” he said.
National Highways says it is reviewing lessons from the project. Its estate team will manage the properties until a strategy is in place. However, under Crichel Down rules, the homes should be offered back to former owners. None wish to return to homes now “full of damp” and in disrepair.
The government cancelled the A1 expansion, calling it unaffordable. But for families whose homes were taken for A1 road plans, the emotional and financial toll remains.
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