THE start of the public inquiry into the proposed M4 relief road around Newport has been delayed because of changes made by the UK Government.

Previously scheduled to begin on 1st November, it has been announced that the inquiry will not start until the new year.

There is a possibility of the delay extending until 31st March 2017.

According to the Welsh Government the delay is the fault of the UK Department of transport who introduced revised methodology to their new forecasting for growth which was not shared in advance.

Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, Ken Skates said: “The UK Government has already expressed its desire to see work on the M4 relief road project start as soon as possible.

“So it is therefore hugely disappointing that the Department for Transport chose only to engage with us on these amendments to their traffic forecasting just three days before they were introduced, forcing this regrettable delay to the start date of the public inquiry.”

It is a change that should have been accounted for according to the Department for Transport a spokesperson said: “We keep our traffic forecasts under review and made clear to Welsh officials at the start of this year we were going to update our projections.”

Despite the delay Mr Skates ensured the inquiry will be completed on time, he said: “It is essential that we, and others who wish to submit evidence to the public inquiry, now take time to fully review these new Department for Transport figures before the inquiry begins. 

“I have been assured that, subject to inquiry approval, the M4 Corridor around Newport Project will still be completed in 2021.”