M27 Junction 10 Upgrade Marks Major Milestone for Welborne Garden Village

The new M27 Junction 10 upgrade began taking traffic on 14th September.

Central to Welborne’s design and development has been ‘infrastructure first’-led strategy, ready for the new community to live and thrive from the outset. As Master Developer, Buckland is delighted at the news that the upgraded junction and link roads began opening to traffic in phases from Monday 14th September 2026. This marks a major milestone for Welborne and for one of Hampshire’s most ambitious transport infrastructure projects.

The new westbound off-slip, motorway underpass and four new roundabouts have opened first, followed by the eastbound and westbound on-slips later in the autumn. Once fully operational, the upgraded junction will provide access to and from the M27 in both directions for the first time, with approximately 30,000 vehicles expected to use it each day.

Originally due to open in winter 2026, the £100 million-plus scheme has been brought forward through an accelerated delivery programme and strong progress during construction. Final safety testing and landscaping will continue as the remaining elements open.

The new all-movements junction is a critical piece of infrastructure for Welborne, where up to 6,000 homes are planned alongside schools, community facilities, employment space and the forthcoming Welborne Commercial Park.

Funding for the scheme has been provided by Buckland Group, the Master Developer of Welborne, and Homes England. The project has been delivered by Hampshire County Council with support from National Highways and contractor VolkerFitzpatrick.

Mark Thistlethwayte, Chairman of Buckland Group, said the opening represents a major milestone for both Welborne and the wider M27 corridor. He thanked the partners responsible for delivering the scheme and emphasised that Junction 10 will serve residents, businesses and communities for generations.

“Junction 10 will serve residents, businesses and communities for generations to come.”
Mark Thistlethwayte, Chairman of Buckland Group

Welborne’s infrastructure-first approach reflects Buckland Group’s long-term strategy for development. The upgraded junction will create an important connection for Welborne’s growing community while supporting employment, investment and economic growth across the wider region. The scheme will also provide a shared footway and cycleway connecting Fareham Common with Welborne, creating new opportunities for walking and cycling between the two communities.

A central feature of the project is the new motorway underpass. Installed during the Christmas 2025 period using an innovative “box slide” technique, the 60-metre-long concrete structure was moved 65 metres into position beneath the M27. In a first for Hampshire, completing this complex operation in one phase reduced the need for prolonged traffic management and enabled the motorway to reopen a day earlier than planned.

Mark Thistlethwayte, Chairman of Buckland Group, joined the Leader of Hampshire County Council and senior project partners on 3rd September at a commemorative event, where the Leader cut the ribbon to mark the formal opening. Guests were also among the first to travel through the underpass by electric bus.

The opening is an important step forward for Welborne and demonstrates what can be achieved through patient investment, effective public-private collaboration and a shared commitment to infrastructure-led growth.