National Networks National Policy Statement

Transport Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 24 Mar 2023 Closed: 11 Mar 2024 Parliament page
The Transport Committee is carrying out an inquiry into the draft revised National Networks National Policy Statement (NNNPS) . The NNNPS is the Government’s statement of strategic planning policy for major road and rail schemes. It provides guidance to applicants in preparing, and the Secretary of State in determining, applications … Read more
11 Recommendations
5 Conclusions
1 Report
2 Oral sessions
3 Letters
2 Events
Activity timeline 9 events
17 Apr
2024
Correspondence
13 Mar
2024
Correspondence
11 Mar
2024
Report published
20 Oct
2023
Report published
6 Sep
2023
Correspondence
19 Jul
2023
Oral evidence
19 Jul
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
28 Jun
2023
Oral evidence
28 Jun
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
19 Jul 2023
View on parliament.uk
Dan Moore · Department for Transport David Buttery · Department for Transport Julian Worth · Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Martin Tugwell · Transport for the North Richard Holden MP · Department for Transport Steve Gooding · RAC Foundation
28 Jun 2023
View on parliament.uk
Colin Black · AECOM Mr Keith Buchan · Transport Planning Society Mr Mustafa Latif-Aramesh · BDB Pitmans Ms Rosie Allen · Green Alliance Professor Phil Goodwin · University College London (UCL) Ralph Smyth · Transport Action Network Robbie Owen · The National Infrastructure Planning Association
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Ninth Report - Draft revised National Policy Statement for Natio… HC 903 20 Oct 2023 16 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
6 results
Clear
4 Recommendation Not Addressed
Ninth Report - Draft revised Natio…
Respond to Climate Change Committee's recommendation on reviewing the national roads programme.
The Government should respond to the Climate Change Committee’s recommendation on reviewing the roads programme and explain why this recommendation will or will not be taken forward. The Climate Change Committee’s recommendations do not relate directly to the NNNPS, but … Read more
Government Response
The government's response explains how residual carbon emissions are managed within the overall strategy for meeting carbon budgets and states that text regarding refusal of consent for significant emissions has been reinstated in the NNNPS, but it does not directly address the recommendation to respond to the Climate Change Committee regarding its recommendation on reviewing the roads programme.
Department for Transport
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5 Conclusion Not Addressed
Ninth Report - Draft revised Natio…
Undefined "residual" greenhouse gas emissions in NNNPS leave infrastructure schemes vulnerable to legal challenge.
The draft NNNPS permits “residual” greenhouse gas emissions from NSIPs, but does not define what “residual” means, nor does it set out a threshold or limits for a level of emissions that would be deemed “residual”. Accordingly, schemes which are … Read more
Government Response
The government discusses the robustness and transparency of decision-making processes and the National Transport Model, but does not address the committee's concern about defining 'residual' greenhouse gas emissions or setting specific thresholds for them.
Department for Transport
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6 Recommendation Not Addressed
Ninth Report - Draft revised Natio…
Amend draft NNNPS to define 'residual' greenhouse gas emissions and provide clear guidance.
The draft revised NNNPS should be amended to provide a definition of, and clear and comprehensive guidance on, “residual” greenhouse gas emissions. This definition must make it possible to distinguish clearly between “residual” and unacceptable increases in emissions from an … Read more
Government Response
The government discusses commitments to protect biodiversity and geological interests and the reinstatement of a paragraph concerning mitigation of harmful aspects of development, but does not address the specific recommendation to define 'residual' greenhouse gas emissions.
Department for Transport
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7 Recommendation Not Addressed
Ninth Report - Draft revised Natio…
Amend draft NNNPS to state legal precedent for infrastructure schemes increasing emissions.
The draft revised NNNPS should be amended to explicitly state the Government’s understanding of the legal precedent for permitting major infrastructure schemes which result in an increase in emissions, where that increase is judged as not likely to harm the … Read more
Government Response
The government's response discusses its Future of Freight plan and a call for evidence on freight and the planning system, but does not address the recommendation to amend the NNNPS regarding legal precedent for schemes that increase emissions.
Department for Transport
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8 Conclusion Not Addressed
Ninth Report - Draft revised Natio…
National Transport Model lacks transparency and sufficient scrutiny in NSIP appraisals.
There is concern from some interested parties that the National Transport Model, which underpins the Statement of Need, does not consider a wide enough range of traffic demand scenarios and that the National Transport Model and congestion forecasts are not … Read more
Government Response
The government's response discusses guidance on associated development and lorry parking, along with its analysis of responses to a call for evidence on freight, but does not address the concerns raised about the National Transport Model, options appraisal, or the 'predict and provide' approach.
Department for Transport
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9 Recommendation Not Addressed
Ninth Report - Draft revised Natio…
Publish National Transport Model data and improve transparency in NSIP scheme alternative decision-making.
The Department for Transport must do more to provide transparency on its approach to assessment and decision making. Specifically, it should: • publish the National Transport Model so that it can be independently tested and verified, or model and report … Read more
Government Response
The government's response focuses entirely on active travel guidance and protections for non-motorised users in the revised NNNPS, without addressing the specific recommendations for increased transparency, publishing data, or explaining decision-making processes.
Department for Transport
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Government Response AI assessment · 16 of 11 classified
Accepted 4
Accepted in Part 1
Deferred 2
Not Addressed 6
Rejected 3
Total 11 recs + 5 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
17 Apr 2024 Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport relating to the updated National Networks National Policy, dated 19 March 2024
Parliament page
13 Mar 2024 Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport relating to the publication of the revised draft National Networks National Policy Statement and the Government Response to the Committee's Ninth Report of Session 2022-23, dated 6 March 2024
Parliament page
6 Sep 2023 Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport, relating to National Networks National Policy Statement, dated 12 August 2023
Parliament page