M42 Junction 6 Improvement - Further Consultation

Overview

We are holding an additional consultation on our proposals for the design of the M42 Junction 6 Improvement scheme, in accordance with the Planning Act 2008, in advance of an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to authorise construction of the project.

Following our statutory consultation held from 9 January 2018 to 9 March 2018, as a result of significant feedback and further environmental assessments, we have made some design changes to ensure the final scheme considers the needs of customers, local residents, landowners, and community groups ahead of submitting our application to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS).

Documents outlining the changes can be found at the bottom of this page.

We are therefore undertaking an additional consultation to provide you with the opportunity to respond to the design changes.  

Businesses, local authorities, public bodies, road users and the communities in neighbouring areas can play an important part in the development of the scheme design.

Your feedback is therefore essential to this consultation as it will enable us to continue to improve the scheme before we start the planning process.

How to get involved

Updated consultation documents will be made available during the consultation period on this web page and at the following deposit locations during their normal opening hours:

You can use the following methods to respond this consultation:

• Complete the online response form by following the link below.
   
• Email us directly: m42junction6@highwaysengland.co.uk
   
• Write to us directly:
  
  Jonathan Pizzey, Senior Project Manager,
  M42 Junction 6 Improvement
  Highways England, Floor 5,
  Two Colmore Square,
  Birmingham
  B4 6BN

To allow us time to collect and assess all responses to this consultation before finalising our DCO application, please ensure your response reaches us by 11.59pm on 2 October 2018.

The need for the scheme

Highways England’s proposed M42 Junction 6 Improvement scheme would provide a comprehensive upgrade of Junction 6 of the M42 near Birmingham Airport, allowing better movement of traffic on and off the A45, supporting access to the airport and preparing capacity for the new High Speed Two station.

During 2016 we identified and assessed a number of options to improve the junction. Following a non-statutory public consultation into the viable options, the preferred route for the scheme was announced on 7 August 2017.

Statutory consultation was held between January and March 2018 to give the community and other stakeholders an opportunity to comment on the proposed design of the scheme. We had a good response to that consultation and are now seeking your views on the changes made to the design in light of the comments received.

What’s changed?

Some of the key changes include:

• the addition of a footbridge across the A45, east of Clock Interchange, which will allow access from Church Lane in Bickenhill;
   
• the redesign and relocation of the drainage pond between the A45 and Bickenhill Village;
   
• the proposed Bickenhill Roundabout repositioned to the south;
   
• the roundabout close to Birmingham Dogs Home has been reduced in size and repositioned to the west closer to Catherine-de-Barnes Lane; and
   
• the modification of the southern slip roads from the new junction on the M42 to minimise the impact on Aspbury’s Copse Ancient Woodland.

This additional consultation is an opportunity for you to comment on these design refinements. People with a land interests directly affected by the scheme, prescribed and statutory consultees, all will have received individual notification of this consultation.

Further information about the Planning Act 2008 process and DCOs can be found on the National Infrastructure Planning website.