Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress there has been on the A57/A628 bypass proposals in the Mottram-in-Longdendale and Hollingworth areas; and if he will make a statement.

The A57/A628 Mottram bypass was confirmed in the first Road Investment Strategy in December 2014. Following this, Highways England has started developing its design in more detail. This work involves considering variations for the route, which Highways England will be seeking feedback on from stakeholders, including the local communities through which it passes.

Before seeking this feedback, Highways England will assess options to establish what impacts they have – both positive and negative - on the environment, the wider network and economy. They will present information from the assessment to the public in the summer of 2016.

Once this design and assessment work has been completed, the higher-performing options will be put before the public through a consultation process then as part of the statutory planning process. Public consultation is planned for 2017.