Of particular note to the fleet sector is the announcement that the Government is to take steps to convert public sector car fleets to electric vehicles, investing £5m in a pilot during the year 2014 to 2015.
The Government has also confirmed that that there will be no tolling on the planned A14 scheme between Cambridge and Huntingdon, construction of which is planned to start in 2016. Instead improvements will be paid for by the Government.
In its document the Government said that it ‘has listened to concerns from local residents and businesses who rely on this road and, following a consultation, has decided to take forward a scheme which does not include a tolling element.’
Responding to the announcement, the CBI’s chief policy director, Katja Hall, said: ‘After so much uncertainty, the news that a decision has been finally made on funding for the A14 means this essential upgrade will get off the ground sooner.
‘This will come as nothing short of a relief for businesses given the importance of this trade route to link the port of Felixstowe to the rest of the country.’
RAC Foundation director, Professor Stephen Glaister, added: ‘The irony is that if that scheme had been built when it was first proposed then it would have been a lot cheaper and simpler. What we need now is a serious debate about how we encourage private sector investment into the road network, something that all parties continue to shy away from.’
As well as announcing energy, transport, communications and water projects, the National Infrastructure Plan has also seen the Government unveil plans to make the UK a world centre for the testing and development of driverless cars, adding that it will conduct a review to ensure that the legislative and regulatory framework to support this aim, reporting late 2014. It will also create a £10m prize fund for a town or city to develop as a testing ground for driverless cars.
Last month saw the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills announce a £1.5m project in Milton Keynes to introduce 100 driverless cars within four years in a move to drive low-carbon technology.
