Strategic road investment

Transport Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 20 Dec 2022 Closed: 29 Feb 2024 Parliament page
The strategic road network in England comprises more than 4,300 miles of motorways and major A-roads. The Department for Transport plans improvements to these roads through five-year road investment strategies, and sets priorities for the strategic road network. This inquiry will look into how well the current Road Investment Strategy … Read more
7 Recommendations
7 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
5 Letters
3 Events
Activity timeline 13 events
20 Oct
2023
Report published
27 Jul
2023
Report published
6 Jun
2023
Correspondence
19 Apr
2023
Correspondence
29 Mar
2023
Oral evidence
29 Mar
2023
Correspondence
29 Mar
2023
Correspondence
29 Mar
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
1 Mar
2023
Oral evidence
1 Mar
2023
Correspondence
1 Mar
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
1 Feb
2023
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
29 Mar 2023
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Darren Oldham · Transport for the North Emma Ward CBE · Department for Transport Kate Cohen · Department for Transport Maria Machancoses · Midlands Connect Mrs Naomi Green · England's Economic Heartland Richard Holden MP · Department for Transport
1 Mar 2023
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Edmund King · The AA Guy Dangerfield · Transport Focus Jonathan Walker · Logistics UK Lisa Hopkinson · Transport for Quality of Life Professor Glenn Lyons · University of the West of England Ralph Smyth · Transport Action Network Sharon Kindleysides · Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
1 Feb 2023
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Dame Bernadette Kelly DCB · Department for Transport Emma Ward · Department for Transport Nick Harris · National Highways
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Sixth Report - Strategic road investment HC 904 27 Jul 2023 14 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
14 results
1 Conclusion Deferred
Sixth Report - Strategic road inve…
Contested impact of further Strategic Road Network investment on economic growth
The Strategic Road Network plays an important role in economic growth and productivity. However, the extent to which further investment in the Network would help to boost growth, in comparison to investment in other modes of transport and connectivity, is … Read more
Government Response
The government noted the committee's recommendation and its intention to conduct a future inquiry, then proceeded to outline its existing decarbonisation strategy for transport and plans for reviewing progress.
Department for Transport
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2 Conclusion Accepted
Sixth Report - Strategic road inve…
Risky strategy accommodating road demand without managing it, hindering transport decarbonisation
Transport remains the biggest greenhouse gas contributor in the UK and the Government’s strategy for decarbonising transport by 2050 is reliant on a rapid switch to zero emissions vehicles. However, in all future scenarios modelled by the Department for Transport, … Read more
Government Response
The government partially agreed, outlining its credible strategies for the rollout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, including a planned zero emission HGV infrastructure strategy for 2024, and work on hydrogen refuelling stations, but did not explicitly address managing demand for new roads.
Department for Transport
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3 Conclusion Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Strategic road inve…
Debate needed on introducing car usage reduction targets for traffic management
In our recent report on Implementation of the National Bus Strategy we recommended that a debate needs to be had about whether the Department for Transport should introduce a target to reduce car usage in England by the end of … Read more
Government Response
The government stated it agrees with the recommendation that a debate is needed on introducing a car usage reduction target for England. However, the response then outlined existing investment in strategic road network maintenance and upgrades, without specifying how the debate would be facilitated or a target considered.
Department for Transport
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4 Recommendation Deferred
Sixth Report - Strategic road inve…
Model and report SRN traffic scenarios to assess demand management contribution to net zero
The Government should model and report on scenarios where traffic levels on the SRN are a) reduced and b) maintained at current levels, alongside the transition to a cleaner vehicle fleet, in order to assess the potential contribution of demand … Read more
Government Response
The government noted the recommendation but did not commit to modelling and reporting on scenarios where traffic levels on the Strategic Road Network are reduced or maintained at current levels. Instead, it discussed past consultation processes, current maintenance spending, and user satisfaction metrics.
Department for Transport
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5 Conclusion Deferred
Sixth Report - Strategic road inve…
Accelerate rollout of rapid charging infrastructure for future electric and zero-emission vehicle fleets
We welcome Project Rapid’s dedicated fund for enhancing electric vehicle charging provision on the Strategic Road Network, but a quicker and greater rollout of rapid charging points and supporting infrastructure will be required to support a future electric vehicle fleet, … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the recommendation and explains its existing processes for assessing deliverability in Road Investment Strategies (RIS). It states that specific details on future investment priorities for rapid charging infrastructure will be set out in the draft RIS3 later in 2023, deferring a concrete commitment.
Department for Transport
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6 Recommendation Accepted
Sixth Report - Strategic road inve…
Provide credible strategy and milestone targets for SRN future vehicle fuel infrastructure
The Government must provide a credible strategy which sets out how the SRN will meet the fuel needs of the future vehicle fleet, including for freight, and provide milestone targets for delivering infrastructure to do so. (Paragraph 26) Meeting user … Read more
Government Response
The government partially agrees, explaining its existing use of experts like the ORR and IPA in developing and scrutinising Road Investment Strategies. It states that existing plans are in place to mitigate risks to project delivery, but does not commit to a specific new strategy or milestone targets for future fuel infrastructure.
Department for Transport
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7 Conclusion Accepted
Sixth Report - Strategic road inve…
Prioritise investment in maintaining, renewing, and enhancing existing Strategic Road Network assets
The existing Strategic Road Network is ageing and requires significant renewal work in places, while many users want to see better day-to-day maintenance and upkeep of the network. Future investment should be focused on renewing older parts of the SRN … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the recommendation, describing its existing engagement with Sub-national Transport Bodies and National Highways' current license requirements regarding stakeholder views for investment priorities. It does not commit to prioritising maintenance and renewal over new projects in future Road Investment Strategies.
Department for Transport
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8 Recommendation Deferred
Sixth Report - Strategic road inve…
Ensure sufficient revenue and capital funding is allocated for Strategic Road Network maintenance
Providing the level of day-to-day running and upkeep that meets the needs of SRN users will require revenue funding alongside capital investment in more costly renewal and repair projects. The Government must, therefore, make sufficient provision for both revenue and … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the recommendation but addresses the aspect of project reporting rather than funding levels for maintenance. It committed to exploring the opportunity for more frequent public project reporting in a single dashboard format with National Highways and the ORR.
Department for Transport
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9 Conclusion Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Strategic road inve…
Overly ambitious portfolio planning has caused consistent overspending and under-delivery by National Highways
Throughout RIS 1 and 2, there has been a consistent theme of overly ambitious portfolio planning, and National Highways has overspent and underdelivered. Despite delays in RIS 1, an even more ambitious portfolio was chosen for RIS 2. Schemes have … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the recommendation, stating that deliverability is assessed when setting a RIS and that the ORR has an important role in the process. They highlight actions taken to manage RIS2, including increased staffing and lessons learned from RIS1, and state that they continue to consider investment priorities for RIS3.
Department for Transport
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10 Recommendation Rejected
Sixth Report - Strategic road inve…
Reconsider expensive, complex Strategic Road Network enhancement projects to ensure deliverable future portfolios
Given the history of consistent delays to complex projects, it seems that portfolios to date have been too ambitious and have suffered from ‘optimism bias’. The Department needs to ensure that future RIS portfolios which include such projects are deliverable; … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the recommendation, stating it already assesses deliverability with independent scrutiny and has increased resources. It rejects the idea of making portfolios smaller due to inefficiency and long delivery periods for complex projects, but confirms investment priorities for RIS3 are being considered for publication later in 2023.
Department for Transport
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11 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Sixth Report - Strategic road inve…
Implement robust measures to assess deliverability and anticipate risks in future RIS portfolios
The Government should implement more robust and transparent measures to assess deliverability when setting a RIS so that a wider range of stakeholders can flag risks to completing projects on time. We are scrutinising the draft revised National Networks National … Read more
Government Response
The government partially agrees, stating that existing expert involvement (ORR, IPA) is adequate for assessing deliverability. It commits to continue managing portfolio and project risks, citing existing action plans for DCO risks and mitigation strategies for inflation.
Department for Transport
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12 Recommendation Rejected
Sixth Report - Strategic road inve…
Update National Highways' licence to formalise engagement processes with Sub-national Transport Bodies
Sub-national transport bodies were established following the publication of National Highways’ licence, and therefore have no codified role in the RIS setting process. There are good examples of collaborative planning and working between STBs and National Highways, but this is … Read more
Government Response
The government notes the recommendation but is not currently planning to review or re-issue National Highways' licence to include a formalised engagement process with STBs. It states that STBs are already engaged through existing licence requirements and joint action plans.
Department for Transport
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13 Conclusion Accepted
Sixth Report - Strategic road inve…
Simplify and make more accessible the reporting on RIS portfolio delivery progress
Understanding and scrutinising the delivery progress of a RIS portfolio, or given project is not simple. It involves cross-referencing several annual reporting documents from National Highways and the Office of Rail and Road which are not updated with changes made … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the recommendation and will work with National Highways and the ORR to explore the opportunity for more frequent public project reporting in one place, while acknowledging that a genuinely 'live' update system is not practical.
Department for Transport
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14 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Sixth Report - Strategic road inve…
Introduce a live dashboard providing up-to-date information on all RIS project costs and timelines
The Government should work with National Highways to introduce a “live” project dashboard which provides up-to-date information on each project in the RIS 1, RIS 2 and subsequent RIS portfolios. The dashboard should provide information on original and current: costs; … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation in principle, agreeing to work with National Highways and the ORR to explore opportunities for more frequent public project reporting in a single dashboard, acknowledging that a truly 'live' system would not be practical.
Department for Transport
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Government Response AI assessment · 14 of 7 classified
Accepted 4
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 2
Deferred 4
Rejected 2
Total 7 recs + 7 conclusions
Correspondence 5 letters
6 Jun 2023 Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, relating to planning for the third Road Investment Strategy, dated 23 May 2023
Parliament page
19 Apr 2023 Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Roads, Department for Transport, relating to strategic road investment, dated 5 April 2023
Parliament page
29 Mar 2023 Correspondence from the Chair of the Transport to the Chief Executive, National Highways, relating to strategic road investment, dated 28 February 2023
Parliament page
29 Mar 2023 Correspondence from the Chief Executive, National Highways, relating to strategic road investment, dated 23 March 2023
Parliament page
1 Mar 2023 Correspondence from the Permanent Secretary, Department for Transport, relating to strategic road investment, dated 21 February 2023
Parliament page