Highway noise barriers which also generate renewable energy could appear on the M40 next spring.

A feasibility study into the new barriers has been completed by the Highways Agency, Wycombe District Council and the M40 Chilterns Environmental Group (M40CEG).

Various parish and local groups have been looking for a way to reduce road noise on the motorway in an environmentally friendly way for many years. The Highways Agency will now start work to develop a performance specification for how the so-called photovoltaic enabled noise barrier should perform and seek ideas from industry on a possible product.

Wycombe Councillor Jean Teesdale said: “Having encouraged M40CEG from the outset, we are excited that the Highways Agency can see the opportunity this solution could have.”

Highways Agency chief highway engineer Ginny Clarke said: “We are committed to our environmental responsibilities and now we are going to take the idea to the next step by looking in real detail how we could use these barriers. If constructed, they would be a first on roads managed by the Highways Agency.“We have been impressed by the professionalism, energy and organisation this partnership has put in to drive the work to this point,” she added.

The Highways Agency will now lead the next stage in consultation with the local community and aims to complete more detailed technical and site studies on the suitability of possible products by the spring.

(Photo: Google Maps)

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