A57 Link Roads
We're investigating ways to improve connectivity between Manchester and Sheffield.
Start date January - March 2023
End date Road Period 3 (2025 - 2030)
Cost TBC
A57 fly-through
You can now see a fly-through of our A57 Link Road plans.
DCO Application Accepted
Because the A57 Link Roads project is classed as a 'Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project', we need to obtain consent to build the scheme through a Development Consent Order (DCO).
On 28 June, we submitted our application for a DCO to the Planning Inspectorate. On the 26 July, the Planning Inspectorate accepted our application for examination. This means our DCO is now in the pre-examination period. During this stage interested parties who have registered by making a relevant representation are invited to provide more details of their views in writing. To register as an Interested Party, please visit the A57 Link Roads Planning Inspectorate website.
We'll then move into the examination period, meaning that the Planning Inspectorate has up to six months to carry out the examination. Careful consideration is given by the Examining Authority to all the important and relevant matters including the representations of all interested parties, any supporting evidence submitted and answers provided to the Examining Authority's questions set out in writing or posed at hearings.
The DCO process is explained below, and in this video. You can also find out more about DCO applications in this leaflet.
Stages of the DCO process:
Pre-application stage
This is a 28 day period where the Planning Inspectorate review our submission to determine whether we have provided everything required for the application. We submitted our application on 28 June.
This does not mean that our DCO application is approved, it is when the Planning Inspectorate decides whether we have submitted all the relevant documentation to allow the application to move forward. The Planning Inspectorate accepted our application on 26 July.
Pre-examination stage
This stage allows for anyone to register as an Interested Party. By doing this, you will be able to submit a written representation or attend a public hearing to present your views.
The Planning Inspectorate will also formally appoint a panel of inspectors to serve as the Examining Authority, and a first meeting will be held to discuss procedural issues and the timetable for examination, called the Preliminary Hearing.
This is the stage we are currently in.
This is a six-month process when the Examining Authority will examine the DCO application against the tests in the National Policy Statement for National Networks.
The Examining Authority will assess feedback from the public and stakeholders through written representations and the hearings. If you have registered as an Interested Party in the pre-examination phase, you can make a representation.
Recommendation and decision stage
Following the end of the six-month examination stage, the Examining Authority will have three months to write a recommendation report and submit it to the Secretary of State for Transport.
The Secretary of State for Transport then has up to three months to make the final decision on whether to grant our DCO.
Post-decision stage
If the Secretary of State for Transport grants the DCO, this is the final stage of the process and provides a six-week window for anyone with legal grounds to challenge the Secretary of State for Transport's decision through judicial review.
This is when scheme construction will start.
Ground and Archaeological Investigation Work
Since February, you may have noticed we have been out and about as part of our ground and archaeological investigations along the route.
This involves us carrying out bore holes and trial pits to check what the ground conditions are like, and to see whether we can find any historic items. We carried out some work in 2018 and these investigations will continue through to May, really helping us understand the area even more.
This work will help us develop our final design ahead of applying for planning permission. If approved, we could start construction in spring 2023.
Consultation now closed
Our consultation on the updated design of the A57 Link Roads project has now closed. Thank you to everybody who took the time to share your views with us.
Over the next few months we'll be reviewing the feedback you provided, and using it to make alterations to the design of the new roads where necessary. We'll then publish a consultation report, which summarises the responses we received.
We'll also continue talking to stakeholders during this time, as well as local organisations and groups, to design the best possible solution for improving traffic conditions in Mottram in Longdendale.
We're on track for submitting our application for a Development Consent Order in spring 2021. View our video which explains the planning process we follow for building major road projects, known as 'Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects'.
Consultation now open – 5 November to 17 December 2020
We've launched a consultation on the A57 Link Roads project and we want to hear your views on the updated design of the proposed road. The consultation is open until 23:59 on 17 December 2020.
Following questions raised at our 2018 consultation, we've also revisited our air quality data and other environmental impacts. We've carried out additional monitoring and assessments, and we now have more environmental information available for you to view.
You can find all of our consultation materials and respond to the consultation by visiting our consultation page.
Our traffic data is still being finalised and is therefore not yet available to view. We will be publishing this data when we make our application for a Development Consent Order in 2021. This follows the normal process for developing a 'Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project'. You can register as an interested party during the 'Development Consent Order' process, to have the opportunity to share your views on this data with the Planning Inspectorate.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we're not holding face-to-face events as we normally would. Instead, we're providing a range of alternative ways for you to speak to the project team, ask questions and ultimately make an informed response to the public consultation.
If you have any questions about the consultation or the project, you can join one of our telephone consultation events by calling our freephone number 0808 196 4502 during the dates and times below:
Tuesday 10 November - 10am to 3pm and 4pm to 8pm
If you have any technical questions which we're unable to answer on the phone, we will arrange for a member from one of our technical teams to call you back. This will be on the following Thursday, at a time convenient for you.
You can also join one of our webinars where we'll present our proposals and hold a question and answer session. These will be held on the following dates and times:
Wednesday 18 November - midday to 2pm Click here to join at the time of the event
Wednesday 18 November - 6pm to 8pm Click here to join at the time of the event
Saturday 21 November - 2pm to 4pm Click here to join at the time of the event
Please note: you may need to download the Microsoft Teams application onto your device to join these webinars.
If you're unable to access any of our materials or require these in a different format, please contact us on 0300 123 5000.
You can watch this short video which explains the "Development Consent Order" process which we must follow to obtain consent to build the scheme.
Upcoming consultation
We're preparing to launch a public consultation from 5 November to 17 December 2020 on the changes that we've made to the design of the project since our last consultation in 2018. We've also carried out additional environmental surveys and monitoring, and we want to hear your views on the most recent data, and our plans for reducing the environmental impacts of the project.
When the consultation launches, we will upload all of our consultation materials on this web page, including an online response form.
We have published our 'Statement of Community Consultation' which sets out how we will carry out this consultation. You can view this in the documents section of this webpage.
You can sign up to be notified via email when we update this page.
Change to scheme delivery dates
During 2018 we consulted with stakeholders and the public on our proposed plans for the Trans-Pennine upgrade project. Since then, we've been carrying out further air quality monitoring alongside our ongoing air quality assessment to ensure the scheme doesn't affect areas of pre-existing air quality exceedances.
It's important this data is in place before presenting our findings to all interested parties.
The gathering and analysis of the air quality monitoring data has had an impact on the timescales for the delivery of the link roads, meaning that we now intend to start construction work on this project in early 2023. We plan to hold another consultation on the latest design and environmental information for the project later this year. Keep an eye on our web page for more details about the consultation, or sign up for email alerts when we update this web page with the latest information.
The A57 Link Roads project was formerly known as the "Trans-Pennine Upgrade", and is referred to as the "Mottram Moor Link Road and A57 Link Road project" in the Government's second Roads Investment Strategy.
The A57 and A628 between Manchester and Sheffield currently suffer from heavy congestion, creating unreliable journeys. This restricts potential economic growth, as the delivery of goods to businesses is often delayed and the route is not ideal for commuters, which limits employment opportunities.
Much of this heavy traffic travels through local roads, which disrupts the lives of communities and makes it difficult and potentially unsafe for pedestrians to cross the roads. These issues will only get worse with time if significant improvements aren't made.
The current scheme has evolved over more than 50 years as different ideas have been explored. In 2017, after a wide consultation about a number of different options, we announced a package of Trans-Pennine Upgrade work, to improve the existing route connecting the M67 at Mottram in Longdendale to the M1, north of Sheffield.
We held another consultation on the proposed package of upgrades in 2018, and have since split the work into two projects which are being delivered separately:
Upgrades to the Westwood roundabout near Sheffield; packaged with technology improvements along the A628, A616 and A61, including electronic signs and improved closure gates
Creation of two new link roads at the western end of the A57/A628 route, to provide a dual carriageway bypass around Mottram in Longdendale
The A57 Link Roads project will include the creation of two new link roads:
Mottram Moor Link Road – a new dual carriageway from the M67 junction 4 roundabout to a new junction on the A57(T) at Mottram Moor
A57 Link Road – a new single carriageway link from the A57(T) at Mottram Moor to a new junction on the A57 in Woolley Bridge.
We started construction on the Westwood roundabout and technology improvements in March 2020. However, as the A57 Link Roads scheme is classed as a 'Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project', to build it, we need to apply for a 'Development Consent Order (DCO)', which will be examined by the Planning Inspectorate and approved by the Secretary of State.
Our DCO video explains more about this process.
The scheme will:
Reduce congestion and improve the reliability of people's journeys - through Mottram in Longdendale and between Manchester and Sheffield
Reduce noise levels and pollution for neighbouring properties - by reducing the amount of traffic from the existing A57 through Mottram in Longdendale
Re-connect local communities and create better conditions for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians - in Mottram in Longdendale
Reduce delays and queues that impact the community - affecting residents, businesses and public transport in the area
A57 Link Roads - November to December 2020
Feasibility study: overview
Feasibility study: technical reports
Consultation 2020
A57 Link Roads - Statement of Community Consultation
A57 Link Roads - Consultation Brochure
A57 Link Roads - Response Form
A57 Link Roads - Scheme Plan and Red Line Boundary
A57 Link Roads - Preliminary Environment Information Report - Non Technical Summary
A57 Link Roads - Preliminary Environment Information Report - Volume 1
A57 Link Roads consultation FAQs
A57 Link Roads fly-through video
Section 48 Notice
Development Consent Order leaflet
A57 Link Roads - Winter 2020 Consultation Report
Rule six letter
Preferred Route Announcement 2017
Consultation report 2017
A61 Westwood roundabout
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