Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Ninth Report - Draft revised National Policy Statement for National Networks
Transport Committee
HC 903
Published 20 October 2023
Recommendations
4
Not Addressed
Para 28
Respond to Climate Change Committee's recommendation on reviewing the national roads programme.
Recommendation
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 …
Read more
Government Response 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 to the Climate Change Committee regarding its recommendation on reviewing the roads programme.
Department for Transport
View Details →
6
Not Addressed
Amend draft NNNPS to define 'residual' greenhouse gas emissions and provide clear guidance.
Recommendation
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 …
Read more
Government Response 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.
Department for Transport
View Details →
7
Not Addressed
Amend draft NNNPS to state legal precedent for infrastructure schemes increasing emissions.
Recommendation
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 …
Read more
Government Response 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.
Department for Transport
View Details →
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 …
Read more
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.
Department for Transport
View Details →
Conclusions (2)
5
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Para 31
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 …
Government Response 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.
8
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Para 48
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. …
Government Response 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.