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All project updates
21 April 2022
The Secretary of State has today granted development consent for this application. For further information please refer to the following decision documentation:
- Secretary of State’s Decision Letter (PDF, 393 KB)
- Planning Inspectorate’s Notification of Decision Letter (PDF, 169 KB)
- Development Consent Order as made (PDF, 1 MB)
- Examining Authority’s Recommendation Report (PDF, 5 MB)
- Regulation 31 Notice (PDF, 123 KB)
- Post-Examination Submissions’ (PDF, 383 KB)
21 April 2022
Decision made by the Secretary of State
8 March 2022
The response to the Secretary of State’s Consultation of 4 February 2022 has now been published.
4 February 2022
The Secretary of State for the Department of Transport has written to all Interested Parties (PDF, 161KB) inviting comments on the Applicant’s response to the consultation of 22 December 2021.
The deadline for responses is 04 March 2022.
The deadline for responses is 04 March 2022.
27 January 2022
20 January 2022
Following a request from National Highways the Secretary of State has agreed to extend the deadline for National Highways to respond to his most recent consultation letter (PDF, 142KB) from 19 January 2022 to 26 January 2022.
22 December 2021
The Secretary of State has issued a consultation letter (PDF, 142 KB) requesting information from National Highways (formerly Highways England) by 19 January 2022
21 October 2021
The Secretary of State has decided to re-set the statutory deadline for decision on this application to 21 April 2022. For further information, please refer to the written statement laid in Parliament.
6 October 2021
21 September 2021
The Secretary of State has issued a consultation letter, (PDF, 140 KB) giving all interested Parties, the Applicant, Cadent Gas Limited and Western Power Distribution Limited the opportunity to comment. Please respond to the letter by Tuesday 5 October 2021.
24 August 2021
9 August 2021
The Secretary of State has issued a consultation letter (PDF, 156 KB) requesting comments from Highways England, Cadent Gas Limited, Severn Trent Water Limited and Western Power Limited by 23 August 2021.
21 July 2021
Recommendations given by the Planning Inspectorate
22 April 2021
The S99 Notification of the Close of the Examination (PDF, 99KB) has been published
Prior to the close of the Examination the following documents were received and accepted by the Examining Authority:
From the Applicant: Close of Examination Letter (PDF, 35KB)
From the Applicant: Guide to the Application (PDF, 422KB)
From the Applicant: Guide to the Application (Tracked) (PDF, 486KB)
From the Applicant: Planning Obligation relating to Whitgreave’s Wood (PDF, 11MB)
From National Grid, withdrawing their Relevant Representation (PDF, 74KB)
Prior to the close of the Examination the following documents were received and accepted by the Examining Authority:
From the Applicant: Close of Examination Letter (PDF, 35KB)
From the Applicant: Guide to the Application (PDF, 422KB)
From the Applicant: Guide to the Application (Tracked) (PDF, 486KB)
From the Applicant: Planning Obligation relating to Whitgreave’s Wood (PDF, 11MB)
From National Grid, withdrawing their Relevant Representation (PDF, 74KB)
21 April 2021
The Examination closes at 23:59 on 21st April 2021.
19 April 2021
The submissions for Deadline 9 have now been published.
13 April 2021
The Examining Authority has published a Rule 17 Request for Further Information.
8 April 2021
Following the issue of the Rule 9 letter dated 31 March 2021, email notifications of the publication of this notice were not issued until today. Therefore the ExA has issued a further Rule 9 Notification (PDF, 100KB) which provides an extension to the deadline for comments on the Applicant’s 360 degree photography which can be viewed at this address: holobuilder.com/app/?p=f9280e39-443f-4521-9b18-7e7ab56d2f61.
The submissions for Deadline 8 have now been published.
The submissions for Deadline 8 have now been published.
31 March 2021
The Examining Authority’s Rule 9 Notification (PDF, 137 KB) has been published.
Highways England supplied 360° photography for Deadline 6A (12 March 2021). These images can be viewed, as intended, as a 360° panorama in your browser from this link: https://app.holobuilder.com/app/?p=f9280e39-443f-4521-9b18-7e7ab56d2f61
The submissions for Deadline 7 have now been published.
Highways England supplied 360° photography for Deadline 6A (12 March 2021). These images can be viewed, as intended, as a 360° panorama in your browser from this link: https://app.holobuilder.com/app/?p=f9280e39-443f-4521-9b18-7e7ab56d2f61
The submissions for Deadline 7 have now been published.
19 March 2021
The Examining Authority’s Rule 17 Notification, (PDF, 115 KB) and an Additional Submission from the Applicant accepted at the discretion of the Examining Authority (PDF, 3MB) have been published.
A Note of the ExA’s Unaccompanied Site Inspection Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 March 2021 has also been published. (PDF, 436 KB)
A Note of the ExA’s Unaccompanied Site Inspection Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 March 2021 has also been published. (PDF, 436 KB)
19 March 2021
The Examining Authority’s Rule 17 Notification, and an Additional Submission from the Applicant accepted at the discretion of the Examining Authority have been published.
16 March 2021
The Applicant has provided 360 degree photography (ZIP, 239 MB) and a video (Document, 4KB) as requested by the Examining Authority in their Procedural Decision of 29 January 2021.
Please note that the video has been redacted to remove the image of a person’s face from the footage in order to meet our data protection policy.
Please note that the video has been redacted to remove the image of a person’s face from the footage in order to meet our data protection policy.
26 February 2021
The Examining Authority has published the following documents:
Report on the Implications for European Sites (RIES) (PDF, 230 KB)
The Examining Authority’s Schedule of Recommended Amendments to the Applicant’s draft Development Consent Order submitted at Deadline 6’ (PDF, 105 KB)
Report on the Implications for European Sites (RIES) (PDF, 230 KB)
The Examining Authority’s Schedule of Recommended Amendments to the Applicant’s draft Development Consent Order submitted at Deadline 6’ (PDF, 105 KB)
23 February 2021
The Examining Authority’s Notification of decisions on proposed change, Site Inspections, Hearings scheduled for March 2021, and associated matters has been published.
17 February 2021
The submissions for Deadline 6 have now been published.
29 January 2021
The Examining Authority’s Rules 8(3) and 9 Notification of decision in relation to Site Inspection and associated variation of timetable for the Examination (PDF, 243 KB) and Third Set of Written Questions (PDF, 191 KB) have been published.
The submissions for Deadline 5A have now been published.
The submissions for Deadline 5A have now been published.
28 January 2021
The submission for Deadline 5A have now been published.
21 January 2021
The submissions for Deadline 5 have now been published.
19 January 2021
The ExA has issued a Procedural Decision (PDF, 257 KB) to notify of the postponement of the Site Inspection and associated variations of timetable for the Examination.
A letter from the Applicant (PDF, 1 MB) containing their response to the ExA’s Acceptance of Change Request Notification 7 January 2021 and their agreement with the landowner has also been published.
A letter from the Applicant (PDF, 1 MB) containing their response to the ExA’s Acceptance of Change Request Notification 7 January 2021 and their agreement with the landowner has also been published.
12 January 2021
The submissions for Deadline 4 have now been published.
7 January 2021
The Examining Authority has given notification of its decision to accept the Change Request (PDF, 142KB) made by the Applicant on 17 December 2020.
ExA Letter Accepting Changes to Land Plans (PDF, 113 KB)
The revised documents in relation to the Change Request have been accepted by the Examining Authority as additional submissions
ExA Letter Accepting Changes to Land Plans (PDF, 113 KB)
The revised documents in relation to the Change Request have been accepted by the Examining Authority as additional submissions
22 December 2020
The Examining Authority’s Rules 8(3) and 9 Notification of decisions (PDF, 198 KB) to cancel the hearings reserved for 19 and 20 January 2021 and change to the Examination timetable has been published.
The Applicant’s response to Procedural Deadline EA has been published.
On 17 December 2020 the Applicant also submitted a Change Request.
The Applicant’s response to Procedural Deadline EA has been published.
On 17 December 2020 the Applicant also submitted a Change Request.
21 December 2020
The Applicant’s response to Procedural Deadline EA has been published.
On 17 December 2020 the Applicant also submitted a Change Request.
On 17 December 2020 the Applicant also submitted a Change Request.
11 December 2020
The recordings for Issue Specific Hearing 1 (Biodiversity and Cultural Heritage), Issue Specific Hearing 2 (Traffic and Transport), Issue Specific Hearing 3 (Draft Development Consent Order) and Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 1 have now been published.
The Action Points from the Hearings held 8 - 10 December (PDF, 101 KB) have now been published
The dates reserved for the continuation of the ISH1, ISH2, ISH3 and CAH1 (Tuesday 15 - Thursday 17 December) are no longer required and therefore are cancelled.
The Action Points from the Hearings held 8 - 10 December (PDF, 101 KB) have now been published
The dates reserved for the continuation of the ISH1, ISH2, ISH3 and CAH1 (Tuesday 15 - Thursday 17 December) are no longer required and therefore are cancelled.
9 December 2020
The recordings for Issue Specific Hearing 1 (Biodiversity and Cultural Heritage) and Issue Specific Hearing 2 (Traffic and Transport) have now been published.
4 December 2020
The Examining Authority has issued its further written questions and requests for information - ExQ2 (PDF, 421 KB)
2 December 2020
The submissions for Deadline 3A have now been published.
1 December 2020
The agendas for the Issue Specific and Compulsory Acquisition Hearings Tuesday 8 - Thursday 10 December 2020 have now been published.
26 November 2020
The Deadline 3 Submissions have been published.
19 November 2020
The Examining Authority’s Rule 8(3) and 9 Notice of Postponement to the Site Inspection and Variation to the Examination Timetable (PDF, 202KB) has been published, along with submissions for Deadline 2 and Procedural Deadline D.
17 November 2020
The Examining Authority’s Rule 9 and 13 Notice of Hearings 8 – 10 December 2020 (PDF 165KB) has been published.
6 November 2020
The submissions for Deadline 1 and Procedural Deadline C have now been published.
29 October 2020
The Examining Authority’s Rule 8(3), 9 & 17: Notification of decisions to accept as part of the Application the proposed design changes submitted on 9 October 2020 and variation of timetable for the Examination, including a request for further information (PDF, 205 KB) has been published.
22 October 2020
The Examining Authority’s Rule 8 letter (PDF, 218 KB) has been published, giving details of the Examination Timetable and other important information about the Examination.
22 October 2020
The Examination Timetable (Rule 8 letter) has been sent to Interested Parties.
Procedural decision following Preliminary Meeting.
21 October 2020
The recording of Open Floor Hearing 1, held on Wednesday 21 October 2020, has now been published.
The Open Floor Hearing 1 was concluded on that date, therefore the reserved Open Floor Hearing for 22 October 2020 will not be required.
The Open Floor Hearing 1 was concluded on that date, therefore the reserved Open Floor Hearing for 22 October 2020 will not be required.
21 October 2020
Examination begins
20 October 2020
The recording of the Preliminary Meeting (Part 2), held on Tuesday 20 October 2020, has now been published.
16 October 2020
The Applicant, Highways England, submitted a letter on Friday 9 October 2020 (PDF, 39 KB) requesting a change to the accepted Application along with accompanying documents.
The ExA will issue a decision on whether to accept this change by no later than Friday 6 November 2020.
The ExA will issue a decision on whether to accept this change by no later than Friday 6 November 2020.
15 October 2020
The Agendas for the Preliminary Meeting Part 2 (Tuesday 20 October 2020) (PDF, 63 KB) and the Open Floor Hearing 1 (Wednesday 21 October 2020) (PDF, 63 KB) have now been published.
Written Responses to Matters Discussed at Preliminary Meeting Part 1 (PDF, 28 KB) submitted for Procedural Deadline B have also now been published.
Written Responses to Matters Discussed at Preliminary Meeting Part 1 (PDF, 28 KB) submitted for Procedural Deadline B have also now been published.
2 October 2020
The recordings of the Preliminary Meeting Part 1, held on 1 October 2020, have now been published.
PM and OFH Involvement Form
If you would like to make written comments on Preliminary Meeting Part 1, register to participate in Preliminary Meeting (PM) Part 2 on 20 October 2020 and/or register to participate in Open Floor Hearing 1 (OFH1) on 21 October 2020 please complete the PM and OFH1 Involvement form by Procedural Deadline B (Monday 12 October 2020)
PM and OFH Involvement Form
If you would like to make written comments on Preliminary Meeting Part 1, register to participate in Preliminary Meeting (PM) Part 2 on 20 October 2020 and/or register to participate in Open Floor Hearing 1 (OFH1) on 21 October 2020 please complete the PM and OFH1 Involvement form by Procedural Deadline B (Monday 12 October 2020)
2 October 2020
In addition to the written comments (PDF, 159 KB) submitted by Procedural Deadline A, the Examining Authority has accepted the following submissions (PDF, 174 KB) in advance of the Preliminary Meeting part 1.
1 October 2020
Preliminary Meeting takes place
29 September 2020
Further to the Rule 6 letter published on 20 August 2020, please note it has been decided that the Preliminary Meeting part 1 on Thursday 1 October 2020 will not be live streamed.
The Meeting will be recorded and the recording published on the NI Project webpage as soon as possible following the event. Written comments on any procedural matters raised at the event should be provided by Procedural Deadline B (Monday 12 October 2020) before the second part of the Preliminary Meeting on Tuesday 20 October 2020.
The Meeting will be recorded and the recording published on the NI Project webpage as soon as possible following the event. Written comments on any procedural matters raised at the event should be provided by Procedural Deadline B (Monday 12 October 2020) before the second part of the Preliminary Meeting on Tuesday 20 October 2020.
18 September 2020
The Examining Authority has accepted the following written comments (PDF, 159 KB) submitted by Procedural Deadline A .
14 September 2020
The Examining Authority has accepted the Applicant’s draft Accompanied Site Visit Itinerary (PDF, 922kb) as an additional submission.
25 August 2020
The notification of the Preliminary Meeting (PM) (Rule 6 letter) (PDF 518kb) has been issued. This includes details of the PM, the draft Examination Timetable, notification of an Open Floor Hearing, and other related matters.
The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (PDF 213kb) have been updated.
Preliminary Meeting Involvement Form
Interested Parties wishing to participate in the PM must complete the Preliminary Meeting Involvement Form by Procedural Deadline A (10 September 2020).
The Examining Authority has issued a notification to clarify the Statements of Common Ground that are requested (PDF 147kb).
The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (PDF 213kb) have been updated.
Preliminary Meeting Involvement Form
Interested Parties wishing to participate in the PM must complete the Preliminary Meeting Involvement Form by Procedural Deadline A (10 September 2020).
The Examining Authority has issued a notification to clarify the Statements of Common Ground that are requested (PDF 147kb).
24 August 2020
Following the Applicant's notification of proposed scheme changes (PDF, 4MB) and the Examining Authority's response, (PDF, 118KB) the Applicant is undertaking consultation on their proposed changes. If you wish to respond to this consultation please contact the Applicant directly on 0300 123 5000 or M54toM6linkroad@highwaysengland.co.uk.
20 August 2020
The notification of Preliminary Meeting (Rule 6 letter) has been sent.
The letter also includes the draft Examination Timetable and Initial Assessment of Principal Issues.
13 August 2020
The Applicant has submitted a notification of proposed scheme changes (PDF 4MB).
The Examining Authority has responded to the notification of proposed scheme changes (PDF 118KB).
The Examining Authority has responded to the notification of proposed scheme changes (PDF 118KB).
3 August 2020
The deadline for responses to the digital Questionnaire, referred to in the Progress Note issued on 20 July and to be used to plan the Preliminary Meeting and examination going forward, is by close of play Monday 10 August 2020.
22 July 2020
The note of the Examining Authority’s Unaccompanied Site Inspection on 16 June 2020 has been published.
20 July 2020
The Examining Authority has issued a Progress Note which set out requests for information, an assessment of principal issues, requests to parties and response to a change request from the Applicant. The deadline for responses to the Questionnaire referred to in the letter is 10 August 2020.
The Examining Authority has also issued its First Written Questions.
The Examining Authority has also issued its First Written Questions.
13 July 2020
The Examining Authority has exercised their discretion to accept an updated representation on behalf of Nurton Developments (Hilton) Limited.
12 June 2020
The Examining Authority (ExA) has exercised its discretion to accept Additional Submissions from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Natural England.
11 June 2020
Relevant representations published on the website
3 June 2020
The Applicant has informed us that some persons with a legal interest in the land affected by the Proposed Development were not notified of the accepted application and were therefore not made aware of the period within which they could make a Relevant Representation. The Applicant has now notified the omitted persons who have been allowed further time to make Relevant Representations. If you are a person that has received the Applicant’s notification dated 1 June 2020 and need assistance making a Relevant Representation, please contact us at M54toM6linkroad@planninginspectorate.gov.uk or telephone 0303 444 5000.
18 May 2020
Registration of interested parties closes
15 April 2020
You can now register as an Interested Party Register online
Please note due to the current health crisis we can no longer send or receive paper forms. If you are unable to complete a registration form online and would like to register your interest, please call the helpline on 0303 444 5000 or email the project mailbox, as found on the project page, for advice on how to register.
For further advice please see Advice Note 8.2: How to register to participate in an Examination.
Please note: due to the restrictions around COVID-19 the Relevant Representations period has been extended to Monday 18 May 2020.
Please note due to the current health crisis we can no longer send or receive paper forms. If you are unable to complete a registration form online and would like to register your interest, please call the helpline on 0303 444 5000 or email the project mailbox, as found on the project page, for advice on how to register.
For further advice please see Advice Note 8.2: How to register to participate in an Examination.
Please note: due to the restrictions around COVID-19 the Relevant Representations period has been extended to Monday 18 May 2020.
9 March 2020
Registration of interested parties begins
28 February 2020
The application has been accepted for examination
19 February 2020
The application documents have now been published.
This provision is solely for the purpose of allowing more time to all those who wish to become familiar with the detail of what is being proposed ahead of the relevant representation period without lengthening the overall time required for the application process. There will be no opportunity at this stage to make comments on the application. However, if the application is accepted anyone interested in the application will be able to register and express their views during the relevant representation stage and the subsequent examination.
This provision is solely for the purpose of allowing more time to all those who wish to become familiar with the detail of what is being proposed ahead of the relevant representation period without lengthening the overall time required for the application process. There will be no opportunity at this stage to make comments on the application. However, if the application is accepted anyone interested in the application will be able to register and express their views during the relevant representation stage and the subsequent examination.
31 January 2020
Application received by the Planning Inspectorate