Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Rejected
Introduce regular five-year review periods for the National Networks National Policy Statement.
Recommendation
The Government should introduce five-year review periods for the NNNPS, with a shorter term where changes in policy decisions or policy drivers warrant it. This does not necessarily mean that wholesale revisions should be made to the NNNPS every five years, but the reviews would provide an opportunity for the Department for Transport to consider the wider policy environment and Government priorities. The Government could also consider the modular approach suggested by the National Infrastructure Commission. (Paragraph 19) Legal challenges to schemes on climate grounds
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation for five-year review periods, stating it does not anticipate the need for further review of the NNNPS given actions already taken to decarbonise transport and its response to the Climate Change Committee.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
The government issued a response to the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) report on 26 October 20231. On the recommendation to review the roads programme, the government is committed to ensuring that transport plays its part in decarbonising the economy and protecting the environment. National Highways undertakes comprehensive environmental impact assessments to establish the likely significant effects of a road project on the natural, built and social environment, to allow consenting authorities to assess a project’s consistency with the government’s environment goals and legislation. In making decisions on the Roads Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3), the government will ensure that it is in line with its legal obligations relating to Carbon Budgets, net zero, Environment Act 2021 targets and the duty to have regard to the Environmental Principles Policy Statement. The government has also ensured that “Improved environmental outcomes” is one of six strategic objectives in the RIS3 process which will shape the initial evidence gathering for RIS3. This will conclude with the publication of the draft RIS due shortly. As set out in the Transport Decarbonisation Plan, the government will continue to adapt and take further action if needed to decarbonise transport. The response provided to the CCC on 26 October 2023 sets out government’s progress to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Given the action already being taken across the economy and transport to reduce emissions, some of which has been acknowledged in the revised NNNPS, we do not anticipate the need for further review of the NNNPS in light of the CCC’s advice. 1 HM Government. ‘Responding to the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) 2023 Annual Progress Report to Parliament’