Notice is hereby given that the Secretary of State for Transport has accepted an application by Highways England Company Limited of Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford, GU1 4LZ (“the Applicant”) for a Development Consent Order (“DCO”) under the Planning Act 2008 (“the Application”). The Application was submitted by Highways England to the Secretary of State c/o the Planning Inspectorate (“the Inspectorate”) on Thursday 30 January 2020 and was accepted on 28 February 2020. The reference number applied to the Application by the Inspectorate is TR010054.

The DCO would authorise the creation of a strategic link between the M54 Junction 1 and M6 Junction 11 (the “Scheme”). From south to north the main components of the Scheme are:

• Replacement of the existing M54 Junction 1 with free flow slip roads between the new link road and the M54. This would allow the freeflow of traffic between the M54 and the new link road in both directions and maintain connectivity with the existing local road network, via three new roundabouts.

• Construction of a new dual carriageway between M54 Junction 1 and the M6 Junction 11. The alignment of the carriageway would be located to the east of the existing A460 and the villages of Featherstone, Hilton and Shareshill and west of Hilton Hall.

• Dark Lane would be stopped-up between the final property and the junction with Hilton Lane.

• The realignment of Hilton Lane on a bridge over the mainline of the Scheme. The bridge would be reconstructed on a similar alignment and would provide sufficient clearance for the new road.

• Provision of an accommodation bridge and access track across the mainline of the Scheme to retain access to severed land to the east of the Scheme. The route of the new link road would then continue north to the east of Brookfield Farm to link into the M6 Junction 11.

• Enlargement of the M6 Junction 11 signalised roundabout to accommodate a connection to the new link road and realign existing connections with the A460 and M6. Two replacement bridges would be required over the M6 to provide an increase in capacity from two lanes to four lanes of traffic on the roundabout. This work would raise the height of the junction by approximately 1.5m.

The DCO would authorise the compulsory acquisition of land, interests in land and rights over land, and the powers to use land permanently and temporarily for the construction, operation and maintenance of the Scheme.

The DCO would make provisions in connection with several ancillary matters, for example, the temporary and permanent stopping up of streets, public rights of way and private means of access in the vicinity of the Scheme; reclassification of roads and the amendment, disapplication and modification of relevant legislation.

The Scheme is Environmental Impact Assessment development (“EIA development”) as defined by The Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. The Application is therefore accompanied by an Environmental Statement.

An electronic copy of the application form and accompanying documents, plans and maps, including the Environmental Statement are available for inspection free of charge from 9th March 2020 until 20th April 2020 at the following locations and times:

Copies of the Environmental Statement Non-Technical Summary are available to take away, free of charge, from these locations, or can be obtained by contacting the project team using the contact details at the end of this notice.

Hard copies of the Non-Technical Summary for the Environmental Statement and the Case for the Scheme can also be viewed at:

The application form and the accompanying documents, plans and Environmental Statement can also be viewed online at the National Infrastructure website for the Application:

https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/west-midlands/m54-to-m6-link-road/?ipcsection=overview

Copies may also be purchased from the project team using the contact details at the end of this notice. Copies of the suite of application documents can be obtained for a charge of £2,500 (plus postage) for hard copies. On request, a USB stick containing these documents will be provided free of charge. Copies of individual documents are also available on request and a charge may apply.

Any person may make representations on the Application to the Secretary of State (i.e. giving notice of any interest in or objection to the Application). Any representation relating to the Application must be submitted on a registration form and give the grounds on which it is made. The Inspectorate have issued detailed advice on registering as an interested party and making a relevant representation, to which you are advised to have regard. This Advice Note (8.2 – How to Register to Participate in an Examination) is published on the National Infrastructure Planning website under ‘Legislation and Advice’ and can be found at:

https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/legislation-and-advice/advice-notes/

The Registration and Relevant Representation form will be made available by the Inspectorate once the registration / representation period has opened on the relevant page for the Application via the National Infrastructure Planning website:

https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/west-midlands/m54-to-m6-link-road/?ipcsection=overview

Alternatively, you can request a hard copy of the form by telephoning 0303 444 5000 quoting the name of the Application and the Inspectorate’s reference number TR010054.

A completed hard copy form to be submitted to the Inspectorate should be sent to:

The Planning Inspectorate, Major Applications & Plans, 3D, Temple Quay House, Temple Quay, BRISTOL BS1 6PN.

Please quote reference number TR010054 in all correspondence with the Inspectorate about this Application.

Representations must be received by the Inspectorate no later than 23:59 on the 20th April 2020. Please note that any submitted representations to the Inspectorate will be published on the National Infrastructure Planning website for the Application.

Further information about the Application may be obtained from Highways England as follows:

Post: Highways England, Floor 5, 2 Colmore Square, 38 Colmore Circus, Birmingham B4 6BN. Email: M54toM6linkroad@highwaysengland.co.uk, Telephone: 0300 123 5000.