Highways England acting chief executive Nick Harris has been confirmed as the permanent chief executive of the government-owned company, which will now controversially be known as ‘National Highways’.
Mr Harris (pictured) joined Highways England in 2016 and has been acting chief executive since February, taking over from Jim O’Sullivan.
Highways England described his appointment as ‘the conclusion of a broad and rigorous recruitment process’, adding that he has ‘the proven track record needed to lead and transform a large and complex organisation’.
However, Mr Harris recently had to correct evidence he gave to the Transport Select Committee. Last month the High Court quashed the Development Consent Order for Highways England’s A303 Stonehenge scheme, which transport secretary Grant Shapps granted against the advice of planning inspectors.
Highways England chair Dipesh J Shah OBE said: ‘Nick’s steady hand throughout the last few months has established a solid foundation to help us on our journey to transform how we work with our supply chain, how we deliver our net zero carbon and how we realise our digitalisation ambitions.’
Mr Harris said: ‘As we deliver the second roads investment strategy (sic) ensuring the safety of all road users, the delivery of our work and the benefits to our customers remains at the centre of our organisation.’
Mr Shapps said: ‘Nick will steer Highways England into an exciting new chapter, as it evolves into National Highways and delivers on our £27bn plan to improve our roads and make journeys safer, smoother and greener.’
Highways England said the rebranding of the organisation ‘National Highways’, heralds ‘a new era for strategic roads’ and reflects the new focus the company has on delivering the Government’s £27bn strategic roads investment programme, while also continuing to set highways standards for the whole UK.
When news of the proposed rebrand emerged last October it was criticised by Plaid Cymru and by the Labour Party. In the same month, the UK Government's Welsh secretary said it would not rule out overruling the devolved Welsh Government over its decision not to build a relief road for the M4 at Newport.
The new era does not appear to have improved transparency at Highways England, which declined to state the cost of the rebranding to the taxpayer but said it would be 'at the forefront of our mind'.
