Secretary of State for Transport (): National road and rail
networks provide critical long-distance links between places,
offering fast and reliable journey times and enabling
connectivity between people and communities. This government is
committed to investing in our transport links – like our historic
£8.5 billion investment into road resurfacing, part of our £36
billion plan to reinvest money that would have been spent on HS2
into local transport connections. These investments in turn
stimulates economic growth by facilitating deeper labour markets,
giving better access to jobs and education, and businesses better
access to skills. National networks also help with leisure
journeys across the country, and support tourism. They connect
vital infrastructure such as ports and airports to people and
markets. They enable the movement of goods and freight into, out
of, and across England, which is vital to UK prosperity, health,
wellbeing, and security. Well-functioning networks allow people
and goods to more freely and reduce costs to individuals and
businesses.
There are a range of challenges which national networks face, and
which may lead to the need to develop national networks further
through infrastructure interventions. These include the need to
maintain network performance and meet user needs; supporting
economic growth; resilience and adaptation to climate change;
supporting the Government’s environment and net zero commitments;
and maintaining and enhancing safety.
The current National Networks National Policy Statement was
designated by Ministers on 14 January 2015 following a
Parliamentary debate. The decision to review it under section 6
of the Planning Act 2008 was announced on 22 July 2021 and a
statement made to the House.
I am today laying before Parliament the revised National Networks
National Policy Statement for the relevant period ending 23 April
pursuant to section 9(8) of the Planning Act 2008. At the same
time, I am also laying, pursuant to section 9(5) of the Planning
Act 2008, the Government’s response to the Transport Select
Committee report of 20 October 2023 and publishing the
Government’s response to the public consultation on the draft
national policy statement.
The National Networks National Policy Statement sets out the need
for development of nationally significant road, rail and
strategic rail freight interchange projects. It provides an
appropriate and effective framework for the Planning Inspectorate
and the Secretary of State for Transport to examine and make
decisions on development consent applications for road, rail and
strategic rail freight interchanges in England. It makes it
easier, simpler and cheaper to deliver the transport
infrastructure we all use or will use in future.
A public consultation on the draft national policy statement was
undertaken from 14 March 2023 to 6 June 2023 and the statement
was also scrutinised by the Transport Select Committee, which
considered written evidence as well as information from oral
evidence sessions. I would like to thank the chair and members of
the Committee for their very helpful report and recommendations.
The Government has considered the consultation responses and the
report of the Transport Select Committee in producing this
revised version of the national policy statement.
Copies of the National Networks National Policy Statement and
Government’s response to the Transport Select Committee will be
laid in Parliament. I am also publishing these documents on the
Department’s website, with the Government’s response to the
public consultation on the draft national policy statement, the
Appraisal of Sustainability and the Habitats Regulations
Assessment.
