Issue details

Approval is sought to adopt and protect the routes for the Preston Western Distributor (PWD) and the routes for the associated links serving strategic housing development areas in North West Preston, namely the East-West Link Road and Cottam Link road shown on Appendix 'A'.

Route adoption and protection is identified as an early activity under the Infrastructure Delivery Plan to the Preston, South Ribble, and Lancashire City Deal. Once these routes are approved, the County Council will be in a position to progress a planning application and start land assembly procedures.

A six-week public consultation exercise was held on one preferred alignment rather than options for these routes, for the reasons that, as described in this report, the search corridor for the PWD has already been identified in the published Central Lancashire Highways and Transport Masterplan, and constraints and design imperatives along that corridor point to a route. For the East-West Link Road, an extensive masterplanning exercise has already been undertaken which has shown an indicative line which this exercise bases a route on.

The consultation received 510 responses, 44% of which cited support for or raised no issue with the preferred choice of routes. Those who raised issues or concerns sought assurances over the timing and potential impact of the construction of the roads and the traffic conditions that would follow. Additionally they raised matters over the impact of the new roads on the existing environment and residences. 

Whilst these matters do not directly impact on the choice of route, they will be given full consideration as detailed designs for the roads schemes and environmental measures to mitigate for their potential impacts are developed to support a planning application.  A Consultation Report, presented at Appendix 'B', compiles and summarises the comments received and responds to these. None of the issues identified through the consultation impede the progression of the routes at this stage.

This is deemed to be a Key Decision and the provisions of Standing Order No 25 have been complied with.