Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Not Addressed
Publish National Transport Model data and improve transparency in NSIP scheme alternative decision-making.
Recommendation
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
Government Response 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.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
The TSC report notes that there should be greater clarity in the draft revised NNNPS on balancing the needs of different travel modes using road space. Witnesses to the TSC’s inquiry raised that the draft revised NNNPS should cite a requirement for cycling provision to be made in accordance with National Highways design standard CD 195 “Designing for Cycle Traffic for motorways and trunk roads”. 7 GOV.UK Guidance. ‘Planning Act 2008: associated development applications for major infrastructure projects’ The government is supportive of improving accessibility for non-motorised users, and the draft revised NNNPS already includes some protections for non-motorised users. For example, paragraph 5.274 states that “the applicant should provide evidence that as part of the project they have addressed any new or existing severance issues and/or safety concerns that act as a barrier to non-motorised users”. In the revised NNNPS, additional text has been added at paragraph 5.271 which requires applicants to “having appropriate regard to policies outlined in existing or emerging local plans, Local Transport Plans, Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans and Rights of Way Improvement Plans where appropriate and applicants should set out agreement on alignment of development proposals to these policies and plans.” Throughout the revised NNNPS, applicants are directed to government policy. Government policy on active travel guidance is Local Transport Note 1/20 which is referenced at endnote 107. Whilst it is noted that other supplementary active travel guidance exists, such as CD 195, the revised NNNPS refers to LTN 1/20 as the government guidance for active travel standards in NSIPs and this is consistent with the approach takes throughout the revised NNNPS.