Sunak pledges roads boost after HS2 axe

04/10/2023 | CHRIS AMES

Rishi Sunak has pledged scores of new road schemes and to resurface roads across the country, funded from what he said was £36bn saved by cancelling HS2 north of Birmingham.

In his speech at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, the prime minister confirmed that he was cancelling ‘the rest of the HS2 project’.

He later clarified that it would go all the way to Euston in line with the initial plan, albeit with the scheme removed from HS2 Ltd.

Pledging that ‘every single penny’ of the £36bn saved would be spent on transport projects, he listed a raft of new rail and road projects and the continuation of the £2 cap on bus fares.

However, Mr Sunak gave little detail and it is not clear how many of the schemes would have been taken forward anyway.

He said the Government would:

  • fund the Shipley bypass and the Blyth relief road
  • upgrade the A1, the A2, the A5, the M6
  • ‘connect our Union’ with the A75 boosting links between Scotland and Northern Ireland
  • deliver 70 other road schemes
  • resurface roads across the country

No 10 subsequently announced that money for the North of England would include a new £3.3bn fund for road resurfacing and ‘landmark investments in roads’, while the Midlands would see the development of road schemes to benefit businesses and their employees at Rolls Royce, Toyota, and Magna Park.

Cash spent elsewhere in the country would include ‘ensuring the delivery of road schemes’, No 10 said.

Labour’s shadow transport secretary, Louise Haigh, pointed out that upgrades to the A1, A2, A5 and M6 had previously been announced, but ministers said in March that they would be delayed for up to five years.

AA president Edmund King said the motoring organisation supported the pledge to spend more on roads and looks forward to seeing the full plans and details.

He said: ‘Cars and road transport are vital to how we live and work. Government figures show 58% of trips and 78% of distance travelled are made with cars, with more than 80% of freight being transported by road and indeed the most popular form of public transport, busses, use the roads.

‘All modes of transport are important in the UK with public transport playing a major role particularly in our towns and cities. An efficient road network though is vital for the economy and environment. Congestion costs businesses billions of pounds and is detrimental to air quality and CO2 emissions.’

Away from the roads sector, Mr Sunak said the Government would:

  • ‘protect’ the £12bn to link up Manchester and Liverpool ‘as planned’
  • build the Midlands Rail Hub, connecting 50 stations
  • help Andy Street extend the West Midlands Metro
  • build the Leeds tram,
  • electrify the North Wales main line
  • connect our Union with the A75 boosting links between Scotland and Northern Ireland
  • bring back the Don Valley line
  • upgrade the energy coast line between Carlisle, Workington and Barrow
  • build hundreds of other schemes

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

UGO bus Coordinator

£26357.00 - £31008.00 per annum + pension
UGO bus CoordinatorPermanent, Full Time£26,357 to £31,008 per annumLocation
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Head of Highways Contracts & Network

£81,803 progressing to £90,664 per annum
This role is fundamental to the success of the Highways Service. Hertfordshire
Recruiter: Hertfordshire County Council

Senior Civil Engineer - Major Projects x 4

£45,894.00 - £54,952.00
We are looking for experienced engineers to help us progress a number of key projects and programmes Glasgow, Glasgow City
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Technician - Maintenance

£31001.0000 - £36471.0000 per annum
Essex Highways is responsible for managing and maintaining one of the largest highway networks in the country
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Highways Contract Engineer

£46,731 - £49,764
The team helps provide a safe road network that operates efficiently and effectively.  Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Principal Transport Planner

£46,731 - £49,764 (pro-rata)
We are looking for an experienced professional to join us on a six-month temporary contact as a Principal Transport Planner. Kettering, Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Maintenance Operative

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Highways Maintenance Operative Broughton, Brigg
Recruiter: Amey

Head of Highways Contracts & Network

£81,803 progressing to £90,664 per annum
The team includes approximately 60 directly employed HCC people Hertfordshire
Recruiter: Hertfordshire County Council

Principal Construction Manager

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Principal Construction Manager Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Quality Technician

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Quality Technician Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)

£42679.0000 - £50211.0000 per annum
Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)Permanent, Full Time£43,960 to £51,718 per annum*Location
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Project Manager (Major Projects)

£44,711 - £47,754
Are you an experienced project professional or engineer with looking to take the next step in your career? Halifax, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

Senior Civil Engineer - Roads

£45,894 - £54,952
Are you an experienced engineer looking to support the Scottish Government’s national objectives. Scotland
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Project Team Manager

£55,147 to £60,676 per annum
We are pleased to be able to offer an opportunity for a role as Design Team Manager Norwich, Norfolk
Recruiter: Norfolk County Council

Clerk of Works

GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Assistant Projects Engineer

GRADE 06 (£29,093 - £32,654),GRADE 07 (£33,366 - £37,035), GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Principal Engineer - Traffic Management

£45,718 - £48,710 per annum
At Bath & North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose – to improve people’s lives. Bath, Somerset
Recruiter: Bath & North East Somerset Council

Vehicle Technician - Improver

£28,624 - £30,060
Transport Services is responsible for all aspects of transport and related services Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Programme Delivery Office Administrator

Grade 9 £31,344 - £33,253 per annum
At Derbyshire, we have been on a journey to transform the way we deliver highway services to make them fit for the future Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Support Officer - Highways Asset Management Systems

£31,586 - £34,314
We are a forward-thinking organisation dedicated to maintaining and improving our highway infrastructure. Lincolnshire
Recruiter: Lincolnshire County 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