M42 Junction 6 Improvement granted development consent

Development consent has been given for improvements to junction 6 of the M42 to allow better movement of traffic on and off the A45, supporting access to Birmingham Airport and preparing capacity for the new HS2 station.

The key components of the scheme include:

• A new dual carriageway link between the Clock Interchange and a new junction on the M42 north of the Solihull Road allowing traffic travelling northbound to exit the M42 and traffic travelling southbound to join the M42.
• The new dual carriageway would be to the west of Bickenhill and would generally be below ground level and pass beneath the B4438 (Catherine de Barnes Lane), at both the north west and south west corners of Bickenhill.
• Improvements will be made to the Clock Interchange and the A45 between the Clock Interchange and the M42, including potential improvements to non-motorised user routes.
• Free flow links will be provided around the north west and the north east of the M42 junction 6.
• Improvements will also be included on the south east side of the M42 junction 6, the A45 westbound (east of the M42 junction 6) and the M42 junction 6 southbound slip roads to improve the performance around this quadrant of the junction.

The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration by Highways England on the 02 January 2019 and accepted for examination on 30 January 2019. Following an examination during which the public, statutory consultees and interested parties were given the opportunity to give evidence to the Examining Authority, a recommendation was made to the Secretary of State on 21 February 2020.

The Planning Inspectorate’s Chief Executive, Sarah Richards said:

“This is the 85th nationally significant infrastructure project to have been examined and decided within the timescales laid down in the Planning Act 2008. The Planning Inspectorate is committed to giving local communities the opportunity of being involved in the examination of projects that may affect them. Local people, the local authority and other interested parties were able to participate in a 6-month long examination. The Examining Authority listened and gave full consideration to local views before making their recommendation.”

Highways England senior project manager, Jonathan Pizzey said: “We’re delighted to receive the Secretary of State’s decision, which represents a major step forward in developing a scheme to unlock congestion and promote economic growth in the West Midlands.

“The M42 is an important strategic route. Upgrading junction 6 will increase capacity, enhance safety and support planned development, improving access to HS2, the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham Airport and future developments such as UK Central Solihull.”

The decision, the recommendation made by the Examining Authority to the Secretary of State and the evidence considered by the Examining Authority in reaching its recommendation is publicly available on the National Infrastructure Planning website.

ENDS

Journalists wanting further information should contact the Planning Inspectorate Press Office, on: 0303 444 5004 or 0303 444 5005 or email: Press.office@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

Background information

Following the granting of planning consent, main construction work on the M42 junction 6 scheme is scheduled to start later this year.

The scheme will see a new 2.4km dual carriageway link road – aligned to the west of Bickenhill – between the A45 Clock Interchange and a new junction on the M42 south of junction 6 located north of Solihull Road.

Further information and updates will be available at the web page: https://highwaysengland.co.uk/projects/m42-junction-6-improvement/

Notes to editors:

The Planning Inspectorate, National Infrastructure Programme of Projects details the proposals which are anticipated to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate as applications in the coming months.