Frequently Asked Questions

'The road will be close to my house and might devalue my property - what can i do / who can i speak to?'

At the moment a precise line for the relief road has not been adopted. It is possible that some people will be able to claim compensation once this is done. When it becomes clear who will be able to claim we will put more information on this website and in other publicity to explain how to do this.

If it is possible that your house, or land that you own, might be needed to build the road then we will have already written to you giving you an opportunity to discuss our plans and how you will be affected in more detail.

'How long will the road take to build?'

If everything goes to plan the relief road scheme should open in early 2010.

'Won't the road attract even more traffic to the area?'

Whilst allowing for predicted overall growth in traffic across the area the relief road is being designed to cater for existing traffic that is currently causing congestion in local communities. In telling us to build the road the Government have been very clear that it must built in a way that does not attract extra traffic.

The relief road has not yet been designed in any more detail. It was recommended by the Government that the road should be built along the route shown and assessment of this is being undertaken. More detailed plans will soon become available and can be viewed both on this website and at exhibitions in and around the local area. For a comprehensive list of forthcoming exhibitions please follow this link

How much will it cost?

The 22km (13.5 miles)-long scheme is estimated to cost between £300-£400 million. Funding is being sought from the Government at the present time, but has not yet been secured. However, the Government Office for the North West recognises the importance of the SEMMMS New Relief Road Scheme as part of the overall SEMMMS Strategy and have requested discussions about possible funding methods.

Where will the new road go?

The SEMMMS Strategy says that the New Relief Road Scheme should be constructed between the M60 at Bredbury and the A6 at Hazel Grove following the protected alignment for the A6(M). The construction of the Stepping Hill Link between the A6 north of Hazel Grove centre and the new road also forms part of the recommendation. In addition it recommends that a bypass of Poynton is constructed that comprises an east-west section linking the A555/A5102 junction north of Woodford to the A6 at Hazel Grove and a link from that to the A523 south of Poynton, and that a reduced scale scheme is constructed to link the end of the M56 spur to the Western end of the A555 at Handforth.

How will it be designed?

The relief road scheme is not intended to provide a new strategic route for longer distance traffic and it will not be to a ‘motorway’ standard. The principles of the proposed New Relief Road Scheme have
been set by recommendations from the South East Manchester Multi-Modal Study
and they are:-

• Roundabout or signal junctions with local road network;
• A road scheme that has dual 2- lane carriageways except on the Poynton Bypass (south of the Chester Road Junction) and the Stepping Hill Link which should be single carriageway; and
• Poynton to Macclesfield A523 Improvement – single carriageway improvements, mainly on the line of the existing road, with the possibility of some shorter sections of new road away from the existing road.

Some minor roads may be stopped up, diverted or bridged. Careful attention is being paid where the route crosses existing public footpaths and bridleways to ensure that important routes are not lost.