Highways England has appointed WSP Parsons Brinkerhoff to develop ways of reducing noise along the M40.

The £2 million design contract involves reviewing sites between junction 3 and junction 8 which have been identified as areas where road noise is an issue.

Working in partnership with the M40 Chiltern Environmental Group (M40 CEG), Wycombe District Council and South Oxfordshire District Council, Highways England ran a competition to develop a range of cost-effective barriers to reduce noise.

Six entries were shortlisted and WSP will now work with designers to trial the noise barriers.

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Potential designs include using solar panels in the barriers to produce clean energy to help offset their installation and operating costs.

Highways England project manager Mark Saunders said: "We are working closely with the M40CEG, Wycombe District Council and South Oxfordshire District Council on this innovative project.

"Our objective is to develop cost effective noise barriers to improve community quality of life through reduced road traffic noise.

"After selecting 6 innovative ideas from the 18 competition entries we received, we have now awarded the design contract. This will help us decide which types of barriers will best suit the different sites on the M40 and start designing a solution for each of them."

Subject to the successful completion of the site review and development of design solutions for each site identified, Highways England will start preparatory work for construction on site in winter 2016-17.

(LM/CD)