A14/Orwell Bridge summit: Suffolk Chamber calls for “pragmatism and collaboration” in delivering solutions

On the 19th June 2026, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce hosted a by-invitation summit involving local MPs, council leaders and transport experts to both examine plans to address issues along the A14 and associated road networks and to push for a more joined-up approach in lobbying the Government and others for funding for the various solutions being evaluated.

This was the second A14/Orwell Bridge summit convened by Suffolk Chamber; the first in October 2025 having identified a range of prospective short, medium and long-term solutions in response to the business organisation’s Broken Down report which highlighted the negative impacts of delays and closures on business operations and investment decisions.

Attendees last week included James Cartlidge MP, Jenny Riddell-Carpenter MP, Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s Crime and Police Commissioner, Councillor Michael Hadwen and Councillor Vicky Armstrong, respectively Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Economic Development and Efficiency at Suffolk County Council, plus senior political and management representatives from Babergh, East Suffolk, Ipswich and Mid Suffolk Councils.

As well providing Suffolk Chamber with the opportunity to call for a more collaborative and pragmatic approach in advocating for the need for a wide range of solutions [Suffolk Chamber’s statement is included in Notes to Editors], the meeting received updates from senior professionals at Freeport East, National Highways, Suffolk County Council and Transport East:

The meeting was informed that:

- Suffolk Chamber has written to the Secretary of State for Transport backing the implementation of a number of short-term policies to help reduce accidents (through extending the 60mph limit from the A14/A140 Junction to the Seven Hills Junction) and improve clearing up times (through National Highways deploying staff alongside those from Suffolk Constabulary)

- The scope of a collaborative assessment programme to quantify the wider economic impacts of closures, congestion and delays along the A14 in Suffolk had been finalised. Once completed this will provide ‘oven-ready’ evidence to help support the case for funding for specific solutions

- National Highways are to commission a specific additional piece of evidencing into the impacts of congestions and delays around the Felixstowe and Ipswich road network – encompassing both the Orwell Crossing and the A12/A14 Copdock Interchange

- The process to update investigations into the Copdock Interchange, as part of the fourth Roads Investment Strategy Pipeline, begins later this year with a clear brief to deliver “improvements to increase capacity and to improve performance of a key junction serving freight traffic to and from the Port of Felixstowe”

- Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet will receive an options report in September into various solutions to improving the capacity of the roads network and the strategic partnerships needed to move them forward

 - The campaign for improvements to Ely and Haughley rail junctions, which will result in nearly 100,00 freight journeys per year being taken off Suffolk’s roads and onto rail, is being reformatted and broadened ahead of the next Spending Review

Paul Simon, Suffolk Chamber’s head of public affairs, observed: “Suffolk Chamber would like to thank those who attended our A14/Orwell Bridge summit. Whilst there is clearly not one single solution available that will solve the capacity issues on the A14 and the economically damaging congestion and delays, it is heartening that many of the part-solutions do have widespread support from across the Suffolk system.

“We believe that all possible solutions, no matter how great or small, should be brought forward for investigation – at least to an outline business case stage or equivalent – as quickly as possible. We plead for pragmatism and collaboration as the default setting as we work together in this endeavour.”