The Department for Transport and National Highways are consulting on Shaping the Future of England’s Strategic Roads. The consultation is linked to the Strategic Road Network (SRN) Initial Report 2025 - 2030 from National Highways. In a section on environment the report states “In 2021-22 we reduced noise for 1,067 households using barriers, low noise surfacing and in-home noise insulation. This has helped us reach a cumulative total of 3,178 quieter households in the first two years of the second road period, 43% of the five year KPI of 7,500 properties.” One conclusion of the report is that “We want to look at air quality and noise across our network and how we can use all the levers we have to improve them.”
In a statement introducing the consultation, Roads Minister Richard Holden says “Between 2020 and 2025, almost half of the investment in strategic roads, is for renewing, maintaining and operating the existing network or for funds to retrofit the existing network to improve safety, enhance the natural environment, and tackle noise or pollution.” He acknowledges that one of the impacts of failure to invest in a well-maintained road network would be reduction in the quality of life and increased intrusion for those neighbouring the network.
The consultation is open until July 13th.
