UK transport strategy promises more funding for major local roads

A new Transport Investment Strategy policy, published by the DfT, proposes the creation of a second-tier 'major road network', made up of the most important A-roads under local authority management. These roads will remain under local authority control, but will benefit from a proportion of the revenue raised from vehicle excise duty (VED) to fund repairs or upgrades.

Transport secretary Chris Grayling said that the new strategy "would mean our most important local authority A roads were actively planned and managed to deliver a better service for drivers". The major road network would "mirror the success of the strategic road network", which is made up of England's motorways and trunk roads, he said.

Infrastructure law expert Jonathan Hart of Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com, described the announcement as "on the face of it, positive news" that "shows recognition of the need to erode the differences of conditions" between England's roads.

"Most regular road users will be aware of the disparity in road conditions between the strategic road network under Highways England supervision and the local roads network, elements of which are often crucial transport arteries, that are the responsibility of local authorities," he said.

"The method and timing for allocating this funding is going to be very important. It has to be hoped that advantage is taken of the real progress that has been made in terms of procuring maintenance and repair works is adopted in supporting authorities, as exemplified by the DfT's Highways Maintenance Efficiency Programme; rather than the potentially more wasteful and inequitable processes of competitive bidding to access funds," he said.

The major road network plans come in response to a study of the major roads in England, conducted by the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund last year. In their report, the researchers highlighted funding and planning gaps between the strategic road network, which is managed by Highways England, and local authority A-roads.

According to the strategy document, the major road network would be made up of "a middle tier of England's busiest and most economically important local authority A roads, sitting between the national [strategic road network] and the rest of the local road network". The government will consult on its proposals later this year, which will also include its proposals for allocating a proportion of the VED-funded National Roads Fund to the new network. This fund was previously envisaged to be ring-fenced for national routes.

The consultation will also set out proposals for how the major road network should be managed at the regional level, which will include "a key role" for the sub-national transport bodies, including Transport for the North and Midlands Connect, according to the strategy document. These bodies will not, however, "become network operators or highway authorities", with highway responsibilities remaining with the existing local authorities, according to the strategy.

More broadly, the transport investment strategy sets out a new approach to prioritising funding for transport infrastructure projects, which could be in place by 2020. The new strategy proposes a "rebalancing" measure, through which investment programmes will be prioritised based on the extent to which they contribute to a more balanced economy. Factors to be considered will include the extent to which the planned investment will increase productivity or growth, support new housing, improve reliability and tackle congestion. The government also intends to fast-track smaller schemes that have been proven to deliver benefits to passengers and drivers, according to the strategy.