Invest in roads to kickstart economic growth, says RHA

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) is calling for urgent investment by Government in the strategic road network to kickstart economic growth.

A new report from the trade body suggests a £26 billion benefit from investing in a series of major road projects. 

The new paper – The Future of Roads Report: Delivering Sustainable, Inclusive, Economic Growth – also stresses the importance of the UK’s strategic road network in connecting towns, cities, communities, and businesses.

It will be presented to the roads minister and MPs from across the political spectrum as part of its parliamentary reception in Westminster on Tuesday (January 21).

Looking ahead to the Government's spending review on March 26, the RHA is urging decision-makers to prioritise investment in the road network to secure long-term economic growth and create the conditions for British businesses to thrive.

At a time when businesses across the country are looking for certainty, it says that investing in the road network is a chance to provide it by connecting communities and reducing the daily challenges of congestion and unreliability which are too often present on our roads.

RHA managing director, Richard Smith, explained: “Investment in our road network is not simply an investment in concrete and mortar, it’s an investment in our businesses, communities, and the wider economy.

“The strategic road network is the workplace of the road freight, coach and van sector, supporting the movement of goods and people the length and breadth of the country. 81% of all freight is moved by road. 

“This is a pivotal moment to make key roads safer, more efficient and capable of supporting the demands of a growing economy.”

The report also claims that for every £1 spent on new bypasses, junction improvements, and carriageways, it brings £2 of benefits for the economy.

To see these projects delivered, the RHA says that there needs to be an urgent reform of the planning system. 

In recent years, it claims that the speed of decision-making for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) has slowed significantly, delaying much needed improvements to the road network.

It says that radical reform to streamline the planning and consenting processes, ensuring that projects can be completed swiftly is urgently required.

Smith continued: “Improving our roads will increase productivity, create jobs, boost regional economies and create the sort of investment that our towns and cities need.

“We want to work with the Government to deliver upon its central pledge of long-term economic growth. Reforming the planning system and kickstarting investment in the strategic road network would be the place to start.”