The Government has confirmed that there will be a review to assess the need and review policies for nationally significant rail and road infrastructure projects for England.
The Transport Secretary made the announcement on 22 July, highlighting that during the last 18 months, fundamental changes have occurred in commuting, shopping and business travel which, before the pandemic, made up 30% of all road journeys by distance and a much higher proportion at the times and places of greatest pressure.
The current National policy statement (NPS) on national networks, was written in 2014, before these significant behaviour changes, and before the government’s legal commitment to net zero, the 10 point plan for a green industrial revolution, the new sixth carbon budget and most directly the new, more ambitious policies outlined in the transport decarbonisation plan.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps MP said: “Reviewing the NPS will ensure that it remains fit for purpose in supporting the government’s commitments for appropriate development of infrastructure for road, rail, and strategic rail freight interchanges.”
