Asked by: Lord Triesman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which minister Highways England is accountable to; what mechanisms are in place to scrutinise that organisation’s performance; how that performance is judged; when that organisation’s performance in the south west of England was last evaluated; and what plans they have, if any, to review that organisation’s licence.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Highways England is accountable to the Secretary of State for Transport. The Secretary of State’s requirements of Highways England are set out in Road Investment Strategies which sets the Department’s long-term vision for the strategic road network. The Department has just announced the second Road Investment Strategy which will run from 2020 to 2025. The Road Investment Strategy includes a set of Key Performance Indicators against which Highways England is measured. Subsequently, Highways England will publish its Delivery Plan to set out in detail how the Road Investment Strategy will be delivered on the ground.
The Office for Road and Rail act as Highways Monitor to ensure that Highways England delivers its major programme of investment and other performance commitments. The Office for Road and Rail publishes an Annual Report on Highways England's performance and delivery of its investment plan after each financial year. Highways England’s record is measured as a result of its performance nationally. This regular reporting covers all regions of England.
Performance meetings with Highways England are conducted on at least a monthly basis by both Department officials and Transport Ministers in addition to day by day informal contacts.
Asked by: Lord Triesman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what role Highways England has in delivering (1) the UK’s Industrial Strategy, and (2) the National Planning Policy Framework.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Highways England manages the strategic road network that has a vital role in moving people and goods nationwide. It is exploring the impacts that technology will have on use of the network, in line with the grand challenge of the Future of Mobility identified in the Industrial Strategy. It is obliged to act in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework.
Asked by: Lord Triesman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) how many holding directions Highways England have issued, broken down per English region, for each year since 2017; (2) the estimated costs of such delays, broken down per English region, for each year since 2017; and (3) what estimate they have made of the numbers of new homes and new jobs that have been delayed as a result of such directions.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Holding directions is a phrase used to describe where Highways England responds to a planning application with a recommendation of non-approval for a defined period.
In 2018/19 497 (12.7% of the total) responses made by Highways England were recommendations of non-approval for a defined period.
In 2017/18 502 (12.3%) of responses made by Highways England were recommendations of non-approval for a defined period.
In 2016/17 322 (8.5%) of responses made by Highways England were recommendations of non-approval for a defined period.
A regional breakdown of these figures is unavailable.
Highways England’s 2019/20 figures will be available in June 2020.
Highways England has not made an assessment of any costs attributable to delays or on the numbers of homes or jobs which may have been delayed as a result of holding recommendations.
The safe operation of the Strategic Road Network is Highways England’s primary concern in responding to planning applications. As such, Highways England has a responsibility to properly evaluate the consequences of proposed developments on the safe and effective operation of its strategic road network. Highways England will comprehensively investigate all evidence to understand the effect proposed developments could have on safety and the performance of the network for all road users. Not infrequently this work will take longer than the statutory deadlines set for Highways England to respond to the planning application consultation. In such circumstances, rather than issue a recommendation of non-approval, Highways England will issue a time limited recommendation of non-approval allowing liaison and negotiation on the development of a viable transport assessment (and solution) whilst keeping the application ‘live’.
Highways England is committed to supporting and enabling growth; its Growth & Housing designated fund has committed some £90million to 28 schemes worth almost £250million, that will enable delivery of up to 45,000 new homes and 44,000 new employment opportunities.
Asked by: Lord Triesman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether Highways England has been successful in delivering the Road Investment Strategy; and, where such schemes supposed to be delivered under the Strategy have not been completed, whether the numbers holding directions have increased as a result.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The first Road Investment Strategy period will end on the 31st March 2020. The Office for Road and Rail will report on the first Road Investment Strategy shortly after that date. The Secretary of State for Transport will also provide a report to Parliament as required by the Infrastructure Act (2015).