Shropshire businesses back 'landmark' £200m M54-M6 link road - but do the numbers stack up?

And while political figures across the region celebrated the latest confirmation for the heavily delayed project, first mooted in 2017, the promise of shorter journey times for commuters and improved regional connectivity carried significant weight for the area's businesses.

Around 2.2 miles of new road is set to be built at a hefty cost of some £200 million, bypassing the existing A460 which is used by the majority of traffic heading north onto the M6 from the M54.

Around 26,000 vehicles queue up on the 30mph A460 every year, with trucks and lorries making up around 10 per cent of that traffic.

According to official estimates, the "high value" new link road will add around £630 million in economic benefits to the region, a figure generated using the UK Treasury's "Benefit to cost ratio" formula, which calculates that for every £1 spent building the road it will deliver £3.17 in benefits over the next 60 years.

But if that often-repeated figure is indeed just an estimate calculated by a government spreadsheet, what does it mean in real terms for the region's businesses, and how will the road realistically deliver an extra £10m per year to the regional economy?

Transport bosses have said the scheme will boost economic growth in Telford and Shrewsbury while improving access to jobs in areas such as the i54 business park, home to Jaguar Land Rover's electric motor plant in Wolverhampton.

And while for the average road user, getting to Stoke-on-Trent 10 minutes faster might not be particularly beneficial, for businesses with large logistics departments, those small improvements can add up over the course of a year.

Chris Greenough, managing director of Telford-based CEL Sheet Metal, said the reduction in congestion will lower the cost of his firm's logistics operation and make it easier to recruit staff. 

The firm processes around 3,000 tonnes of steel every year from its 36,000 square foot manufacturing site in Stafford Park, a stone's throw from the M54 at Junction 4.

"The new direct link will drastically reduce congestion around the A460, cutting journey times for our logistics partners and team. That means faster delivery times, lower transport costs, and improved service reliability for our customers," he said.

"For CEL, time lost in traffic has always meant lost productivity and cost inefficiencies, so this upgrade is more than just a road project: it’s a smart investment in the region’s manufacturing economy.

"We also see the positive impact it will have on local recruitment and workforce access, especially with our operations near i54 and Wolverhampton."

Training firm In-Comm training has bases in Walsall and Telford, where it provides training for advanced engineering and manufacturing companies in Bridgnorth, Telford and Shrewsbury. 

Executive director Bekki Phillips said the new road could be "especially beneficial" for staff and learners travelling between the company's sites. 

“At the moment, you can have major delays on the M54 heading onto the M6, so you try to find a new way. Come off at Junction 1 and then you’re hit with possibly even longer delays as the size of the road going through Featherstone just can’t cope with the volume of traffic.

“Now it all depends on how quickly they build it - after all, the UK isn’t the quickest at getting big infrastructure projects completed.

“When it does open, it will certainly boost productivity for businesses in Telford and Shropshire as it will cut travel times significantly.”

Ruth Ross, chief executive of Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, said the road would make the region more attractive to businesses looking to relocate to the area, once completed. 

"Connectivity is one of the key selling points for towns such as Telford when it comes to inward investment, so this new route can only strengthen our county's appeal," she said.

For businesses and road users alike, attention will now turn to when the road can now actually be delivered. Consent was originally granted for the link road in April 2022 with the project expected to begin shortly afterward - but work was suspended almost immediately by then transport secretary Grant Shapps to explore further environmental concerns.

The delay led to the departure of principal contractor Bam Nuttall in 2023, with the most recent update from National Highways in September last year confirming that the process of finding a replacement was still ongoing.

"We’re still in the process of appointing a new delivery partner. This is a complex task which requires some time; however, we’re making steady progress," said a spokesperson.

No new updates have been delivered since, with a phase of preparatory works for the scheme due to be concluded in December 2024.

The project was thrown into doubt in July 2024 when the scheme was included on a list of major transport projects under review by the incoming Labour Government, who claimed the previous administration had committed to around £2.9 billion of unfunded capital schemes.

This week's announcement by the Government confirmed that the project would indeed go ahead as part of a £92 billion spending review settlement for more than 50 road and rail projects nationwide, which the Government described as "the biggest boost to England’s transport infrastructure in a generation".

The road is now expected to be complete by 2030.

"Roads and railways are the backbone of our economy, which is why we are giving them the record funding boost they need, putting taxpayers' money where it matters most and making every day journeys easier," said Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.

"With over £92 billion investment, including the biggest ever boost for city regions in the north and Midlands, we’re delivering the schemes that fast-track economic growth and jobs, connect communities, and will help us build 1.5 million new homes, as we deliver our Plan for Change.   

"We’re forging ahead with the vital new transport infrastructure Britain needs, and improving what we’ve already got, to deliver a new era of renewal and opportunity."