The government has delayed its decision on a £340 million overhaul of Simister Island after demanding fresh details on flood risks and a century-old water main that runs beneath the proposed works.

Transport ministers have asked National Highways to explain how updated Environment Agency flood maps, released in March after the public inquiry closed, could affect the scheme that would add new lanes and a free-flowing northern loop to the junction where the M60, M62 and M66 meet.

A letter dated 27 June from the Department for Transport states: “The Secretary of State notes that this data was published following the close of the examination and has not been considered. The Secretary of State requests an update from the applicant on any implications the new data would have on the proposed development.” The same correspondence also seeks assurances over funding for upgrades to the nearby Haweswater aqueduct.

The interchange, already handling 90,000 vehicles daily—far above its design capacity—would gain a five-lane stretch of the M60 between Prestwich and Simister, extra lanes on the M66 approach, and a second clockwise link from the M60 northbound to westbound. National Highways, which lodged the application, says the work would cut congestion and improve journey reliability, but the Planning Inspectorate must now wait for the requested flood-risk analysis before forwarding its final recommendation. If approved, construction would take about two years.

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