5 Questions

1 What are the Highways Agency's priorities relating to development?

The Highways Agency’s network of motorways and major A roads is at the heart of the UK's economic well-being. Although we only make up about 3% of the country’s whole road network, our roads carry a third of all road traffic and two-thirds of all freight. Our aim is to provide safe, reliable and well-informed journeys. Developments that have a substantial impact on our roads can create congestion and so be detrimental to the ability of these roads to support the nation’s economic status. Developments can also hugely benefit the nation’s economic and social status. So the agency’s role is to support development where possible while ensuring the integrity of the road network.

2 Are the government's proposals for sustainable communities in the housing growth areas raising any particular issues?

The housing growth areas present challenges, not just for the agency but for transport in general and these challenges are not restricted to growth areas. In the South-east, for instance, only one-fifth of housing developments are planned within the ODPM’s growth area.

A key concern is that transport is too often seen as a bolted-on issue rather than fully integrated into the spatial planning process from the outset. The agency considers the big picture, taking account of the cumulative effects of various developments rather than looking at them sequentially. We are also adopting a proactive role with spatial planners at regional, sub-regional and local levels to address this concern.

3 Housebuilders perceive that more Article 14 notices are being applied – but what are the facts?

The agency uses Article 14 very infrequently to turn down developments outright and the agency has not directed the refusal of any developments within the growth areas. Beyond this, Article 14 is often used to apply conditions to planning permission (such as in relation to access arrangements and road improvements) and to seek more information before the application may be determined.

4 Why are Article 14 notices being applied – particularly in areas of housing growth?

Article 14 is often used to put a planning application on hold where the developer has not provided enough information about the transport aspects of their application. In these circumstances the onus is placed on the developer to provide a transport assessment that is fit-for-purpose, which will allow the agency to make a well-informed judgement.

5 What can developers be doing to work better with the Highways Agency to meet the government's sustainable community agenda?

Whether they are within growth areas or not, the agency collaborates with local authorities to integrate transport into the spatial planning process. Developers can adopt a similar approach with their partnership with the agency. They should be formulating their proposals with an eye on their potential impact on the transport network. We like to talk to developers as early as possible in preparing their proposals.