Planning and the strategic road network in England

When to consult National Highways at pre-application stage

We are a statutory consultee in the planning system. You are encouraged to seek early advice from us if your development proposal:

• is likely to result in an adverse impact on the safety of, or queuing, on the strategic road network (SRN)
• is likely to prejudice the improvement or construction of the SRN
• consists of or includes the construction, formation or laying out of access to or from the SRN

Additionally, you must consult us before you apply for a Development Consent Order (the ‘pre-application stage’) on nationally significant infrastructure projects, where this is likely to affect road or transport operation and/or planning on the SRN.

The Network Management Map shows the location of roads we manage, which includes trunk motorways and major A roads.

Our engagement with the planning system

Pre-application discussions are an effective means of gaining a good, early understanding of any issues that might have a bearing on the way in which the development is planned and/or delivered. This, in turn, helps avoid delays and difficulties further into the application process.

Depending on the nature of the site and the proposed development, you may submit a written scoping report and/or request a meeting with us. Where a meeting is arranged we would encourage other relevant parties to attend as necessary, including the local planning and highway authorities. We would particularly recommend this for larger and more complex sites.

If a scoping report is to be prepared, we would advise this includes:

• details of the development, such as location, access arrangements, use class, size or number of units, likely phasing, maximum number of parking spaces and any other relevant information
• proposed methodology for estimating the vehicular trip generation and distribution on the SRN, and resulting trip generation figures
• proposed methodology for assessing the impact of this trip generation on the SRN
• proposed methodology for assessing the environmental consequences of the transport impacts of the development

Planning policy and guidance

The Department for Transport Circular 01/2022 is the policy of the Secretary of State for Transport in relation to the SRN, and should be read in conjunction with the National Planning Policy Framework, National Policy Statements, Planning policy for traveller sites, National planning policy for waste, Planning Practice Guidance and all other material considerations when strategic-policy making authorities are setting policies and making decisions on planning and development proposals.

You should also refer to National Highways' planning guide if you are a development promoter or involved in plan-making/decision-taking in relation to any proposals which have the potential to impact the SRN. In particular, this sets out our commitment to work with you to:

• consider the most appropriate locations for development
• develop strong policies and proposals that are sustainable, practical and well-designed
• make the best of opportunities around our routes
• assess potential impact on the strategic road network
• consider how best to deliver new development
• minimise adverse impact
• assess requirements for mitigation works

Development Affecting Trunk Roads Direction

This document is the direction made by the Secretary of State for Transport under section 77 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, which sets out the requirement for local planning authorities to consult the Secretary of State where it does not propose to determine a planning application in accordance with National Highways' formal recommendation.

In such circumstances, a local planning authority must not issue an approval decision otherwise than in accordance with one of the outcomes identified in article 5 of the Direction.