A new report from planning and economic development consultancy, Lichfields has argued that National Highways has a unique opportunity to take a proactive role in supporting the UK government’s growth agenda.
The report, titled The Road Ahead: The Future Role of National Highways in Economic Growth and Housing Delivery, presents an analysis that emphasises how National Highways can complement its core goals of delivering a safe and well-maintained strategic road network by aligning itself with the government’s fresh national economic and housing goals.
With recent changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and wider policy announcements, Lichfields argues that new avenues have opened for National Highways to play a leading role in major initiatives such as the New Towns Programme, and planning for the ‘Modern Economy’, which would rely heavily on the efficient operation of the Strategic Road Network (SRN).
National Highways, working in partnership with local authorities, developers and government bodies, can facilitate infrastructure investments that support high-growth sectors, including logistics, advanced manufacturing and renewable energy.
Typically seen as the government agency focused on managing and improving England’s motorways and major A roads, there is now an opportunity for National Highways to engage more directly in growth-focussed initiatives.
Richard Coburn, senior director at Lichfields, said: “By making its remit more explicitly focused on growth on top of its existing Licence responsibilities, National Highways can adapt to ensure it joins the top-table to be a key enabler of the UK’s economic and place-focused ambitions.
“This approach would allow National Highways to work proactively to accelerate housing delivery and commercial developments, alongside stakeholders across the country, aligned with the government’s ‘Get Britain Moving’ agenda.”
This broadened mandate would, the consultancy says, allow National Highways to play a strategic role in enabling growth across the country. Such a shift would support the government’s wider agenda to promote regional growth.
National Highways has a proven track record through programmes such as the Growth and Housing Fund, to fast-track good quality developments dependent on SRN access. With more regional devolution deals soon to be on the table, the analysis highlights the importance of National Highways’ collaboration with local authorities to streamline planning and encourage collaboration to support the establishment of new communities and economic hubs.
Coburn added: “By empowering National Highways with a more expansive mandate and organising itself accordingly, the company should become a core growth partner. This will put it on par with other major infrastructure bodies to ensure better vision-led transport solutions to support the delivery of well-connected, sustainable New Towns and clusters of modern industries targeted in the government’s emerging Industrial Strategy.”
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