Recommendations & Conclusions
6 items
4
Recommendation
Ninth Report - Draft revised National P…
Not Addressed
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 acceptance of them would change the policy environment in which …
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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 acceptance of them would change the policy environment in which the NNNPS operates and, presumably, prompt further review. Obtaining clarity on this issue is important for establishing whether challenges to NSIPs on climate grounds are likely to continue.
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Government response AI summary
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 …
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Department for Transport
5
Conclusion
Ninth Report - Draft revised National P…
Not Addressed
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 likely to cause an increase in carbon emissions may remain …
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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 likely to cause an increase in carbon emissions may remain vulnerable to legal challenge.
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Government response AI summary
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.
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Department for Transport
6
Recommendation
Ninth Report - Draft revised National P…
Not Addressed
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 NSIP. (Paragraph 32) 26 Draft revised National Policy Statement for …
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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 NSIP. (Paragraph 32) 26 Draft revised National Policy Statement for National Networks
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Government response AI summary
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.
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Department for Transport
7
Recommendation
Ninth Report - Draft revised National P…
Not Addressed
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 achievement of a national target. (Paragraph 35) Confidence and transparency
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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 achievement of a national target. (Paragraph 35) Confidence and transparency
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Government response AI summary
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.
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Department for Transport
8
Conclusion
Ninth Report - Draft revised National P…
Not Addressed
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 published in ways that permit thorough scrutiny of their assumptions. …
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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 published in ways that permit thorough scrutiny of their assumptions. There is also a lack of faith in the options appraisal process for NSIPs before they reach Development Consent Order stage. Finally, there is concern that, while the Department for Transport talks about moving away from ‘predict and provide’, in reality the NSIP regime perpetuates that approach. For promoters of schemes, opponents and the wider public to have confidence in the robustness of the revised NNNPS, greater transparency is needed.
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Government response AI summary
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.
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Department for Transport
9
Recommendation
Ninth Report - Draft revised National P…
Not Addressed
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 on a wider range of scenarios where traffic levels on …
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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 on a wider range of scenarios where traffic levels on the SRN are a) reduced and b) maintained at current levels and ambition for rail patronage is increased, as we recommended in our report on strategic road investment; • publish its own estimated congestion forecasts for the Strategic Road Network; • be more transparent in the decision-making process for potential alternatives to NSIP scheme choices, for example at Project Control Framework stages 0 and 1 for road schemes. • provide a list of “exceptional circumstances” which would necessitate consideration of alternative schemes during the Development Consent Order examination process; and • provide examples of how the draft revised NNNPS supports a move away from the ‘predict and provide’ approach to developing NSIPs. (Paragraph 49) Further recommendations
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Government response AI summary
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.
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Department for Transport