Announced in the second reading of the Infrastructure Bill – which is expected to receive Royal Assent by March 2015 – the tranche of changes see the Highways Agency become a government-owned company, which will save the taxpayer at least £2.6bn over the next 10 years.
The agency will be renamed as Highways England from April 2015 and will be responsible for delivering over 100 new road schemes between now and the end of next parliament.
A strategic road network monitor role will be undertaken by the Office of Rail Regulation, who will publish information on the performance of the new Highways England and will have the power to take action for poor performance.
The bill will also see Passenger Focus renamed Transport Focus, to provide road users with a stronger voice in how roads are managed and maintained.
Roads Minister John Hayes said: ‘This government is making a transformational £15bn worth of improvements to our road network between now and 2021. It is only right that the new government-owned company has a name that reflects its new role, as a road operator that delivers a fast, efficient and better service for road users and the country.’
Commenting on the announcement, Malcolm Bingham, head of road network management policy at the Freight Transport Association (FTA), said: ‘FTA has supported the change in the function of the Highways Agency; now the new title of Highways England will reflect the remit of the new organisation which we believe is important. The new organisation will provide a developing Strategic Road Network of motorways and trunk roads for the next 5 years. FTA has been and will continue to work closely with the new governance arrangements to ensure that the road freight users’ voice is fully represented.’
