DfT thrown into confusion as Government plans unravel

05/10/2023 | DOMINIC BROWNE

A flagship £9bn road scheme and a key electric vehicle (EV) charging policy are among the Government plans thrown into doubt, as the prime minister's recent interventions on transport start to unravel.

Reports have circulated that neither Network Rail nor the Department for Transport were properly consulted prior to Number 10 axing the Manchester leg of HS2 or delaying the ban on petrol and diesel cars.

The prime minister's interventions appear to have left the Department for Transport (DfT) reeling across other policy and project plans.

The department has declined to confirm that ministers ‘remain committed to the [£9bn] Lower Thames Crossing'.

A spokesperson said that the department ‘would not be able to comment further as the DCO is live’ – a reference to National Highways' ongoing application for a development consent order for the LTC project.

However, this is not government policy, as transport secretary Mark Harper previously asserted his commitment to the scheme in March when the DCO was already live.

Similarly, a senior DfT spokesperson could not confirm whether key elements of the EV roll-out strategy remain policy after the PM's 2035 delay to the ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles.

In the DfT's 2022 EV roll-out strategy document, it stated: 'We will look to take pre-emptive powers to ensure there is a clear statutory obligation [on local highway authorities] to develop local charging infrastructure strategies and oversee their delivery, subject to consultation.’

The consultation was supposed to happen this year, leaving the DfT little time to catch up on its EV charging roll-out strategy.

The prime minister stressed that the pace of the EV charging roll-out was one reason why he felt the need to delay the ban on petrol and diesel vehicles. He noted that 'we have further to go to get the charging infrastructure truly nationwide'.

When asked to confirm or deny whether the Government still intends to give local authorities statutory responsibilities for the roll-out, a spokesman declined to comment.

He stated that the Government continues to work closely with local authorities to deliver local charging infrastructure.

He added that the department had consulted on the proposed measure through the Future of Transport Regulatory Review consultation, and would respond in due course.

However, the Future of Transport Regulatory Review consultation was launched in September 2021, six months before the official EV charging roll-out strategy was released.

The strategy was based in part on findings from the review and had confirmed that the DfT's plan was to hand statutory responsibilities to councils.

However, the DfT official suggested that this was no longer the case and the department was still deciding whether to proceed to a second consultation on the plans.

The DfT also declined to confirm whether it had a list of highway authorities with charging infrastructure strategies or whether it still planned to name and shame local highway authorities that had not produced strategies for chargepoint provision.

In a sign of how under-prepared the DfT was, a Government document listing the 'Network North' schemes that ministers would support with the £36bn saved from HS2's northern leg, included funding for tram routes in Manchester and Nottingham, which in fact already exist.

Among a host of re-announcements in the document, it also made a pledge to dual the A1 between Morpeth and Ellingham, which is already a committed RIS 2 scheme.

The document itself has been re-edited, watered down and even had sections about supporting mobility transformations in Bristol and Leeds removed. Another pledge in the document confused Littlehampton with Southampton.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Director of Transport

£112,924
East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) is on a bold journey. East Midlands Region
Recruiter: East Midlands Combined County Authority

Ferry Host - WMF3049i

£25,584 - £25,992
Ferry Host - WMF3049i Windermere, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Director of Streetscene

£94,972 - £108,767
We continue to have big ambitions for our borough Fareham, Hampshire
Recruiter: Fareham Borough Council

Principal Engineer - Urban Traffic Control (UTC)

£44,711 - £49,764
Liverpool is home to vibrant, energetic and engaged communities. Liverpool, Merseyside
Recruiter: Liverpool City Council

Roadworker/Driver

Grade 6 £25,183 - £25,638 per annum (Pay Award Pending)
We’re looking for Roadworker/trainee LGV drivers to be part of our team Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Project Chargehand (2 Posts)

Grade 9 £31,344 - £33,253 per annum (Pay Award Pending)
We’re looking for experienced Project Chargehands to be part of the Highways Construction Services team Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Lawyer 2- Planning and Highways

£49,764 - £54,181
We are looking for a fresh thinking and enthusiastic Planning and Highways Lawyer Hereford, Herefordshire
Recruiter: Herefordshire Council

Development Engineer

£35,967 - £41,268 per annum
Are you ready to play a key role in shaping and safeguarding the future of our highways and public spaces? Bexley (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recruiter: London Borough of Bexley

Professional Services Partnering Manager

Grade 13 £47,653 - £51,296 per annum (pay award pending)
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Professional Services Partnering Manager to lead the strategic management Darley Dale, Matlock
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Technical Supervision Manager

Grade 13 £47,653 - £51,296 per annum (pay award pending)
We are looking for an experienced and driven Technical Supervision Manager to lead our technical supervision teams within the Highways Service. Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Street Lighting Electrician (CDC)

Grade 8, £32,662 - £36,239 (pay award pending)
Highways Operations is a growing service area within the Place directorate. Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: City Of Doncaster Council

Highways Assistant Engineer WMF2133e

£39,513 to £40,476
We have an exciting opportunity for the right person to work within the challenging and ever-changing landscape. Penrith, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Highways Inspector/NRSWA

£36,345 - £40,344
We are looking for an organised and self-motivated individual to join our Streetworks Team based in Hackney Central. Hackney, London (Greater)
Recruiter: London Borough of Hackney Council

Structures Commissioner

Grade 14 £53,166 - £59,080 per annum (Pay Award Pending)
We are seeking an experienced and strategic leader to join our team as the Structures Commissioner. Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Team Leader Network Co-ordination

£51,429 - £58,140
As Team Leader for Network Coordination, you’ll manage a team that oversees all works and events on our public highways. Kensington and Chelsea, London (Greater)
Recruiter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council

PRINCIPAL TRANSPORT PLANNING OFFICER

£43693 - £46731
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional to join our team in Hull as a Principal Transport Planning Officer. Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire
Recruiter: Hull City Council

HIGHWAYS AND TRAFFIC ENGINEER - 4 POSTS

£43693 - £46731
We have several exciting opportunities for suitably qualified Highways Civil Engineers and Traffic Engineers Wilson Centre, 1st floor, Hull HU1 2AG
Recruiter: Hull City Council

Principal Transport Planner

£45,718 to £49,764
Do you have considerable experience in the transport strategy and policy, and are you looking for your next career development opportunity? Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: Sheffield City Council

Project Lead - Bridges and Structures WMF3037e

£45,718 to £46,731
We are currently seeking to recruit a Project Lead to join our Bridges and Structures team Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW