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| M4 relief road 'could cost £1.1bn' despite assurances | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The planned M4 relief road could cost £1.1bn, new figures show, despite the first minister saying it would be much lower than that. | |
| The preferred route, south of Newport, would cost £857m to build but factors including buying land increase the bill, a report detailing the Welsh Government figures said. | The preferred route, south of Newport, would cost £857m to build but factors including buying land increase the bill, a report detailing the Welsh Government figures said. |
| In November 2015, Carwyn Jones said the M4 road would cost "nowhere near" £1bn. | In November 2015, Carwyn Jones said the M4 road would cost "nowhere near" £1bn. |
| The government has been approached for comment. | The government has been approached for comment. |
| It comes as officials launch a consultation on the compulsory purchase of land - an important step to launching a public inquiry. | It comes as officials launch a consultation on the compulsory purchase of land - an important step to launching a public inquiry. |
| The new six-lane stretch of motorway - the so-called black route - has proved controversial with environmental groups and politicians, and the Labour government currently has no agreement with any other party for the plan. | The new six-lane stretch of motorway - the so-called black route - has proved controversial with environmental groups and politicians, and the Labour government currently has no agreement with any other party for the plan. |
| Ministers will be unable to give the go-ahead until after the assembly election on 5 May. | Ministers will be unable to give the go-ahead until after the assembly election on 5 May. |
| Despite Mr Jones' previous assurances about costs, the Welsh Government document puts the project estimate, excluding VAT and inflation, at £1.093bn. | Despite Mr Jones' previous assurances about costs, the Welsh Government document puts the project estimate, excluding VAT and inflation, at £1.093bn. |
| The estimate, based on prices at the end of 2015, includes: | The estimate, based on prices at the end of 2015, includes: |
| New bridges | New bridges |
| The document, called a scheme assessment report, also says that the scheme would involve 35 new bridges. Most would be needed to allow the new motorway to pass over or under side roads. | The document, called a scheme assessment report, also says that the scheme would involve 35 new bridges. Most would be needed to allow the new motorway to pass over or under side roads. |
| A new bridge would be needed to carry the M4 over the River Usk. The crossing would be high enough for the passage of ships, the government says. | A new bridge would be needed to carry the M4 over the River Usk. The crossing would be high enough for the passage of ships, the government says. |
| The figures have emerged ahead of the publication of draft orders on the compulsory purchase of land by the Welsh Government on 24 March. | The figures have emerged ahead of the publication of draft orders on the compulsory purchase of land by the Welsh Government on 24 March. |
| Some 12 residential buildings would require demolition, including a Grade-II listed vicarage in Magor. | Some 12 residential buildings would require demolition, including a Grade-II listed vicarage in Magor. |
| Other draft orders relating to the route and an environmental statement were published on Thursday. | Other draft orders relating to the route and an environmental statement were published on Thursday. |
| People can object to the plans from now until 4 May and ministers will then decide whether to hold a public inquiry. | People can object to the plans from now until 4 May and ministers will then decide whether to hold a public inquiry. |
| The road could be open by autumn 2021, with work potentially starting in spring 2018. | The road could be open by autumn 2021, with work potentially starting in spring 2018. |
| Exhibitions are set to be held in areas affected, including Magor, Newport and Nash. | Exhibitions are set to be held in areas affected, including Magor, Newport and Nash. |
| Analysis by BBC Wales political editor Nick Servini: | Analysis by BBC Wales political editor Nick Servini: |
| So we now know that, despite claims from the first minister, the latest estimates from officials indicate that it will indeed cost £1.1bn. | So we now know that, despite claims from the first minister, the latest estimates from officials indicate that it will indeed cost £1.1bn. |
| The consultation on compulsory purchase orders ends on 4 May, the day before the assembly election. | The consultation on compulsory purchase orders ends on 4 May, the day before the assembly election. |
| There's nothing new in the timeline here but it shows that Labour is pressing ahead and taking things as far as it can before the vote. | There's nothing new in the timeline here but it shows that Labour is pressing ahead and taking things as far as it can before the vote. |
| If there are significant objections then a decision will be made by ministers before the summer on whether to press ahead with a public inquiry. | If there are significant objections then a decision will be made by ministers before the summer on whether to press ahead with a public inquiry. |
| By that stage, we will know the make-up of the assembly, and we will know whether all of this has been a waste of time, or whether political agreement can be reached. | By that stage, we will know the make-up of the assembly, and we will know whether all of this has been a waste of time, or whether political agreement can be reached. |
| The political maths is difficult for all of those who support the £1bn option, rather than upgrading an existing road. | The political maths is difficult for all of those who support the £1bn option, rather than upgrading an existing road. |
| So far Labour is the only party to come out in favour. The only other party that's considering a new motorway is the Conservatives, all of the others have come out against. | So far Labour is the only party to come out in favour. The only other party that's considering a new motorway is the Conservatives, all of the others have come out against. |
| On that basis, it seems as if the only way this is going to get through the assembly would be as a result of a Labour-Tory deal. | On that basis, it seems as if the only way this is going to get through the assembly would be as a result of a Labour-Tory deal. |