Dedicated scheme website
Information relating to the development of the A5 Western Transport Corridor is updated regularly on the dedicated scheme website:
A5 WTC draft Orders consultation
On Thursday 11 February 2016 the then Minister for the Department Michelle McIlveen announced the imminent start of consultations by the Department, on new draft Statutory Orders and a new Environmental Statement for the A5 Western Transport Corridor dual carriageway scheme.
The documents consulted on were:
- a new environmental statement
- a new draft Direction Order for the length between Newbuildings and Ballygawley
- three new draft Vesting Orders for the scheme between Newbuildings and Ballygawley
- a new Stopping-up of Private Accesses Order
These documents were prepared to reflect changes arising out of the original Public Inquiry process in 2011 and to take account of any interim changes in legislation and design standards. These documents can be viewed on the scheme website:
Scheme updates
►Preferred corridor and route options for the 85 kilometre dual carriageway scheme between New Buildings and Aughnacloy carried out between 2007 and 2010.
►Draft Vesting and Direction Orders and an environmental statement for the scheme published in November 2010 for the scheme.
►Due to reduced funding availability at the time, the Northern Ireland Executive directed in February 2012 that the works be split into discrete sections and delivered in a phased approach.
►Notice of intention to make a Direction Order and notice of intention to make a Vesting Order published in August 2012 for Phase 1 of the scheme (from New Buildings to North of Strabane together with south of Omagh to Ballygawley).
►A Legal challenge to the Making of the Orders was heard in the High Court between late 2012 and early 2013. The judge found against the Department on one count and ruled that an appropriate assessment under the Habitats Directive should have been carried out in respect of the River Foyle and River Finn Special Areas of Conservation. As such, the legal Orders were quashed. The Department did not appeal the ruling.
►To comply with the requirements of the Habitats Directive, four draft reports to inform an appropriate assessment for designated environmentally sensitive sites (nine in total) were published for consultation during 2014.
►In February 2016 the Department published for consultation the Notice of Intention to Make Vesting Orders (draft Vesting Orders) for a number of phases of the scheme as follows:
- Phase 1A - New Buildings to north of Strabane;
- Phase 1B - south of Omagh to Ballygawley; and
- Phase 2 - north of Strabane to south of Omagh.
►The Notice of Intention to Make a Direction Order (i.e. draft Direction Order) for the length between New Buildings and Ballygawley and a new Environmental Statement (ES) covering the full extent of the scheme between New Buildings and Aughnacloy were also published during that time. The ensuing consultation periods extended to 2 June 2016.
►A Public Inquiry administered by the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) commenced on 4 October 2016 and concluded on 14 December 2016. The PAC report into the inquiry was received by the Department on 25 May 2017 and its recommendations are being considered in detail before making a decision, on whether to proceed with the scheme and make the necessary statutory Orders.
►A second consultation in relation to the Habitats Directive was carried out in April 2017 and following feedback received the Department is now carrying out a further consultation during the period 22 August 2017 until 2 October 2017.
►The Reports of Information to Inform an Appropriate Assessment (RIAA), which have been the subject of consultation with statutory bodies, other interested parties and the general public have been updated in light of all consultation responses received, any changes in circumstances, the public inquiry process and any additional information available to the Department.
►The decision to proceed with the A5 Western Transport Corridor scheme (A5WTC), was announced on 28 November 2017. On the same date, the Direction Order was made for the length of the scheme between New Buildings and Ballygawley together with making the Vesting Order for Phase 1a between New Buildings and north of Strabane. This first section of the A5WTC scheme to be constructed is approximately 15 kilometres in length with works expected to start early 2018.
►Copies of the Notice of Intention to Proceed, Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) report and the Department’s Statement can be viewed online at the links below.
- A5 WTC Dual Carriageway Scheme - Confirmed Orders
- A5 WTC Dual Carriageway Scheme - PAC Report
- A5 WTC Dual Carriageway Scheme - Department's Statement
►The final versions of the RIAA’s, together with a Habitats Regulations Assessment Summary Report that set out an assessment of those impacts and all other documents relating to the project that include the Direction / Vesting Order maps can be viewed at: a5wtc
►A legal challenge to the Department’s Decision was submitted by the Alternative A5 Alliance (AA5A) on 22 December 2017.
Having given careful consideration to recent High Court decisions as well as the provisions of the recently enacted NI (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Act 2018, the Department decided that it was not in the public interest to continue defending the legal challenge brought about by the AA5A. Consequently at a Court hearing on the 15 November 2018, the Department invited the Court to quash the above mentioned Orders and this took effect from Friday 16 November 2018.
What this means in practice is that, in terms of process, the Department moves back to a point in time just before its decision to proceed with the scheme in November 2017 and, as a result, the Direction and Vesting Orders for the scheme are no longer in force. For landowners in Phase 1a, the lands that had been vested by the Department in January 2018 are therefore now back in their ownership with effect from 16 November 2018.
As a flagship project of the Northern Ireland Executive, a decision on the implementation of the new dual carriageway remains a priority for the Department and it will now carry out the necessary work to enable a fresh decision on the scheme to be taken during 2019. This work is likely to include the publication of an addendum to the existing Environmental Statement followed by a six-week public consultation process. At the end of that period the Department will consider all representations made on the content of the addendum.
At the point where a decision is ready to be made and in the continued absence of ministers, the Department will consider whether to issue a decision taking account of the provisions of the above mentioned NI (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Act 2018 and the associated guidance issued by the Secretary of State. At that time, consideration will also be given to making a new Direction Order (New Buildings to Ballygawley) and a Vesting Order for the lands previously vested for construction of Phase 1a.
Subject to these considerations and any further issues that emerge, construction works on Phase 1a could commence on site in late 2019.
Further Environmental Consultation - 2019
The Department has updated the Environmental Statement (ES 2016) with an Environmental Statement Addendum (ESA 2019) and accompanying Non-Technical Summary (NTS Rev’B) together with the Extraction Impact Report on Quarrying in the Townland of Ulbalreagh. These environmental reports published for consultation during the period 26 March 2019 to 17 May 2019 should be read in conjunction with the ES 2016 as they provide additional information to update the ES 2016.
In addition, the Reports of Information to Inform an Appropriate Assessment (RIAA), which have been the subject of previous consultations during 2014 and 2017 have also been updated for consultation during the same period 26 March 2019 to 17 May 2019.
Further Environmental Consultation - November 2019
It has been brought to the attention of the Department that the base data used for the new traffic model referred to within the Environmental Statement Addendum (ESA 2019) and Non-Technical Summary (NTS) Rev’B has not been made available as part of the environmental consultation carried out earlier in 2019.
The Department has decided to publish this base traffic data, with a new consultation process commencing on 20 November 2019, concluding on 10 January 2020. This seeks any further representations on the Environmental Statement Addendum (2019) and Reports to Inform an Appropriate Assessment in light of the new base data.
At the point where a decision is ready to be made and in the continued absence of ministers, the Department will consider whether to issue a decision taking account of the relevant legislation at that time. Consideration will also be given to making a new Direction Order (New Buildings to Ballygawley) and a Vesting Order for the lands previously vested for construction of Phase 1A.
All the aforementioned reports and public notices are available to view or download on the project website - A5 WTC Website.
PAC - Public Inquiry 2020
A Public Inquiry administered by the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) into the A5 Western Transport Corridor scheme, concluded on 13 March 2020. The Inspector’s report is scheduled for completion in September 2020. Subject to a favourable outcome from the Public Inquiry and the successful completion of all statutory procedures and environmental assessments, construction work on the first phase of the scheme, Phase 1A from New Buildings to north of Strabane, could commence during 2021.
PAC - Interim Report (September 2020)
The Department received an Interim Report on the Public Inquiry from the PAC Commissioner on 2 September 2020. The Project Team is giving detailed consideration to the issues raised and recommendations made in this Report and will then prepare a submission for the Minister's consideration and a decision on the way forward with the scheme. At that time, the Minister will also consider the timing of the publication of the Interim Report.
Publication of the PAC Interim Report and the Interim Departmental Statement (March 2021)
The Project Team has reviewed the issues raised and recommendations made in the Planning Appeals Commission’s (PAC) Interim report on the proceedings of the public inquiry into the A5 Western Transport Corridor scheme and has taken legal advice.
Having given careful consideration to all of the advice given, the Minister, Nichola Mallon MLA, has announced publication of the PAC Interim report together with the Department’s response to the recommendations made by the PAC in the form of an Interim Departmental Statement.
The PAC Commissioner’s key recommendation has been accepted, regarding the preparation of and consultation on further documents on the topics of flood risk and the consideration of alternatives to the proposed scheme.
The Minister has accordingly directed the Project Team to prepare a further addendum to the Environmental Statement for consultation later this year.
Further consultation will also be undertaken under the Habitats Regulations on a number of Reports of Information to Inform an Appropriate Assessment relating to the likely impacts of the A5 scheme upon Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Ramsar sites.
It is anticipated this approach will lead to the re-opening of the public inquiry, as recommended by the PAC, early next year and will enable the PAC to consider further public representations and prepare its final report. This, in turn, will allow a Ministerial decision on the next steps for the scheme.
The PAC Interim Report and the Interim Departmental Statement are available to view or download on the project website at:
Publication of New Environmental Statement Addendum (2022) and Associated Documentation
Following the Planning Appeals Commission’s (PAC’s) Interim Report from the public inquiry of February / March 2020 and the subsequent Interim Departmental Statement of 16 March 2021, the Department has now prepared a new Environmental Statement Addendum (ESA 2022). This includes information on the topics of flood risk and the consideration of alternatives to the proposed scheme, as recommended by the PAC, and also updates other aspects of the original Environmental Statement of 2016 (ES 2016) and Environmental Statement Addendum of 2019 (ESA 2019).
The Minister, Nichola Mallon MLA, has announced the publication of this new ESA 2022 and associated documentation and the commencement of a period of public consultation from 16 March 2022 through to 6 May 2022. These documents should be read in conjunction with the previous ES 2016 and ESA 2019.
Further consultation is also being undertaken under the Habitats Regulations on a number of Reports of Information to Inform an Appropriate Assessment relating to the likely impacts of the A5 scheme on Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Ramsar sites. The Reports of Information to Inform an Appropriate Assessment (RIAAs) build upon previous consultations during 2014, 2017 and 2019.
A further Notice of Intention to Make a Vesting Order has also been published on the proposal to vest additional lands required for environmental mitigation purposes.
It is the anticipated the A5WTC Public Inquiry can be re-convened by the PAC later this year to consider all representations made.
All the aforementioned reports and documentation are available to view or download on the project specific website - A5 WTC Website.
Public invited to submit views on A5 Supplementary Environmental Information (7 November 2022)
Views are invited from the public on A5 Supplementary Environmental Information published today by the Department.
The Department published and consulted on a new Environmental Statement Addendum (ESA 2022) and associated documentation on the A5 Western Transport Corridor dual carriageway scheme in March 2022.
Having considered the opinions expressed in response to that consultation process, the Department is further consulting on a number of new and other updated reports as supplementary information to the ESA 2022.
These reports relate to new information on a new Outline Business Case for the scheme; updates and additional information on scheme alternatives; scheme phasing; agricultural industry impacts and further background information on proposed mitigation measures at Tully Bog Special Area of Conservation.
The Department encourages anyone with an interest in this significant flagship project to make their views known during this consultation period which opens today until 23 December 2022. Members of the public can submit their views by letter or email. All details are available at: A5 WTC Website.
All previous representations about the project in response to the ESA 2022 consultation of March this year, will be taken into account by the Department and it is not necessary to re-submit them. Any additional representations by way of supplement or amendment must however be submitted to the Department on or before the closing date of this consultation process of 23 December 2022.
Information relating to the public inquiry has been published on the PAC website at : Public Local Inquiry into the A5 Western Transport Corridor Road Scheme | Planning Appeals Commission (pacni.gov.uk).
Public invited to submit views on A5 Supplementary Environmental Information - January 2023
Views are invited from the public on A5 Supplementary Environmental Information published during this week by the Department for Infrastructure.
The Department published and consulted on a new Environmental Statement Addendum (ESA 2022) and associated documentation on the A5 Western Transport Corridor dual carriageway scheme in March 2022.
In November 2022 the Department made available a number of reports as supplementary information to the ESA 2022 with a consultation that concluded on 23 December 2022. Following a request by the Planning Appeals Commission the Department is now making available a report containing layout drawings covering the entire length of the scheme together with longitudinal profiles and cross sections. An updated Non-Technical Summary has also been prepared and available (NTS Revision D).
The Department encourages anyone with an interest in this significant flagship project to make their views known during this consultation period which opens on Wednesday 18 January 2023. Members of the public can submit their views by letter or email. All details are available at: Publication of further drawings.
All previous representations about the project in response to the consultations of March and November 2022 will be taken into account by the Department and it is not necessary to re-submit them. Any additional representations by way of supplement or amendment must however be submitted to the Department on or before the closing date of this consultation process of 3 March 2023.
Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) Report Update (November 2023)
The Department has received the final advisory Report on the Public Inquiry proceedings of 2020 and May / June of this year from the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC). The Department is now giving careful consideration to the points raised and detailed recommendations made, before the next steps can be taken.
Last updated: December 2023