M54-M6 link road 'could generate more than £500m'

A campaign for a link road connecting the M54 and M6 has been going on for several years

A planned link road connecting the M6 and M54 could be worth more than half a billion pounds to the country's economy, West Midlands leaders claimed.

The government recently confirmed the £200m project to join the M6 at Laney Green, Staffordshire, to the M54 at Featherstone, near Wolverhampton.

The scheme had been in the pipeline for several years, with councillors and MPs saying it could benefit Wolverhampton, Shropshire, Staffordshire and the Black Country.

Telford and Wrekin Council leader Lee Carter said the "landmark" project was expected to generate between £555m and £634m in economic benefits

He said it could also cut journey times for commuters, remove about 19,000 drivers from nearby roads and improve access to jobs.

"This important link is about making life easier for working people, attracting new investment, and ensuring Telford remains a key player in the Midlands economy," the Labour leader said.

"Seeing this connection move forward is a significant and welcome step for our community."

He told BBC Radio Shropshire that, while the construction phase would inconvenience people, it would "make life a lot easier" once it was finished.

Telford and Wrekin Council leader Lee Carter said the announcement was a "landmark" moment

West Midlands mayor Richard Parker said it would provide faster journeys and improve connections for "thousands of people and businesses" in the Black Country and surrounding areas.

"This will transform the region, drive growth and opportunity in every community - and help us deliver better journeys for everyone," he said.

Sir Gavin Williamson, Conservative MP for Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge, said it would make a "real difference" to communities.

"Residents in Featherstone, Hilton, and Shareshill have had to deal with increased congestion in their villages and difficulties with access," he added.

While he also welcomed the news, the Wrekin's Tory MP Mark Pritchard was concerned it might encourage development on east Shropshire's green space.

"It cannot mean a new road comes at any cost to local villages and communities," he told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"The downside potentially is this creeping urbanisation – light industrialisation – of the east of our county."

The Conservative representative said Shropshire was a "growing county" but it needed to grow in a way so as to protect its green spaces.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the investment was "long overdue"

The link road was announced by the Department for Transport following a £92bn settlement from the government's Spending Review.

The proposed scheme would help relieve congestion on the A460, A449, and A5, ministers said.

"These vital investments are long overdue, will transform local communities and improve living standards across the country," said Chancellor Rachel Reeves.