Northern Ireland department provides update on the current position with land to be vested for A5WTC Topics:

The Department for Infrastructure has provided an update on the position with over 300 landowners whose land is being vested as part of the first phase of construction of the A5 Western Transport Corridor (Section 2 and Section 3 Phase 1B).

The Department recognises the uncertainty that landowners, their families and businesses affected by the A5 Western Transport Corridor have faced over a prolonged period.

Since the High Court judgment in June 2025, officials have continued an extensive programme of engagement with landowners. Every affected landowner has been offered the opportunity to meet individually with the project team, while officials have maintained regular contact through direct correspondence and engagement with landowners and their appointed professional agents.

The Department also meets regularly with the Ulster Farmers' Union, including at senior official level, and this engagement has continued following the recent Court of Appeal proceedings.

The legal proceedings and the quashing of the Vesting Orders disrupted the normal compensation process and delayed access to compensation funding for some affected landowners. Any claims arising from evidenced financial impacts will be assessed independently by Land & Property Services on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the statutory compensation framework.

The Minister has given a commitment that major construction work will not commence on any lands until after 31 December 2026. Any necessary activities before that date remain limited to surveys and other essential preparatory work. 

The Department recognises the important role professional agents play in supporting landowners and meets reasonable professional fees associated with that representation.

While the Department awaits the formal order giving effect to the Court of Appeal judgment of 6 October 2026, officials will continue to engage and update affected landowners as the position develops.

A Questions and Answers section of the website has been created to help landowners understand the current position is available at https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/articles/a5wtc-website-updates-following-court-appeal-judgement 

It will be updated as further information becomes available.

Notes to editors:

1. The A5 Western Transport Corridor (A5WTC) is an NI Executive led scheme which will provide 85 kilometres of new road of which 82km would be dual carriageway, from New Buildings to the border at Aughnacloy. It will improve links between the urban centres in Strabane, Newtownstewart, Omagh, Ballygawley and Aughnacloy and provide a strategic link with international gateways.
2. The A5WTC is currently split into three Sections, Section 1 New Buildings to South of Strabane, the Authorised Section South of Strabane to Ballygawley (Section 2 and Section 3 Phase 1B) and Section 3 Phase 3 Ballygawley to the border south of Aughnacloy.  Contractors have been appointed for the delivery of each.
3. Scheme objectives are to help tackle regional imbalance, improving the economy, job prospects and prosperity, better connecting communities, but most importantly the A5WTC is about saving lives.
4. The A5WTC has a long and protracted history, facing many challenges including three public inquiries and four legal challenges.  These challenges have led to significant pressure on costs and programme.