Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 59
59
Paragraph: 289
We recommend that National Highways devote a greater proportion of its environmental budget to the...
Recommendation
We recommend that National Highways devote a greater proportion of its environmental budget to the mitigation of outfalls and set a target of eliminating pollution from those outfalls most at risk by 2030, in line with the Government’s commitments to halt species decline. It should set out, by the end of 2022, a timetable for eliminating the risks from the outfalls and soakaways it manages.
Paragraph Reference:
289
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
The Department for Transport and National Highways agree that the mitigation of high risk outfalls will support Government objectives to halt species decline. National Highways take a risk based approach to management of highways outfalls which prioritises resources and action towards higher risk outfalls, although risk can never fully be eliminated. By the end of the 2022/23 financial year, National Highways agrees to set out its plans for how these locations could be mitigated by 2030. As referenced in recommendation 35, the Department for Transport is currently developing the 3rd Road Investment Strategy (2025–2030) which provides an opportunity to set out performance requirements and the associated funding required. As this is a future planning round in process it is not possible to make a commitment at this time.