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Deadline extensions for Lake Lothing crossing, West Midlands rail freight interchange, A303 Sparkford and Amesbury duel carriageways plus A63 improvement.

This statement confirms that it has been necessary to extend the deadlines for decisions on the following 5 applications made under the planning act as indicated below to allow for further work to be carried out before they are determined by the Secretary of State:

• Lake Lothing 3rd crossing Lowestoft, for the proposed development by Suffolk County Council of a new multi-span single highway opening bascule bridge over Lake Lothing in Lowestoft. The Secretary of State received the examining authority’s report on 5 September 2019 and the current deadline for a decision was 5 December 2019. The deadline is now extended to 5 May 2020
• West Midlands strategic rail freight interchange: for the proposed development by Four Ashes Limited of a new strategic rail freight interchange and other supporting infrastructure works near Junction 12 of the M6 motorway in South Staffordshire District. The Secretary of State received the Examining Authority’s report on 27 November 2019 and the current deadline for a decision was 27 February 2020. The deadline is now extended to 5 May 2020
• A303 Sparkford to Ilchester dualling: for the proposed development by Highways England of a continuous dual carriageway on the A303 linking the Podimore Bypass and the Sparkford Bypass. The Secretary of State received the Examining Authority’s report on 12 September 2019 and the current deadline for a decision was 12 December 2019. The deadline is now extended to 17 July 2020
• A63 Castle Street Improvement – Hull: for the proposed improvement by Highways England of approximately 1.5km of the A63 and connecting side roads in Hull between Ropery Street and the Market Place/Queen Street junction. The Secretary of State received the examining authority’s report on 24 December 2019 and the current deadline for a decision was 24 March 2020. The deadline is now extended to 31 May 2020
• A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down: for the proposed construction by Highways England of a new two-lane dual carriageway for the A303 between Amesbury and Berwick Down in Wiltshire. The Secretary of State received the examining authority’s report on the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down Development Consent Order application on 2 January 2020 and the current deadline for a decision was 2 April 2020. The deadline is now extended to 17 July 2020

Under section 107(1) of the Planning Act 2008, the Secretary of State must make his decision within 3 months of receipt of the examining authority’s report unless exercising the power under section 107(3) to extend the deadline and make a statement to the House of Parliament announcing the new deadline.

The department will also endeavour to issue decisions ahead of the deadlines above wherever possible.

The decision to set new deadlines is without prejudice to the decisions on whether to give development consent for the above applications.