Environment

A64 low carbon resurfacing

Background

Road resurfacing is one of our biggest producers of carbon. In April 2024, we committed to deliver the lowest-carbon road resurfacing scheme that we’ve ever attempted on our network.  

The ​A64 Bramham eastbound was chosen to build on the success of two similar nearby low carbon schemes in Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees. ​Tarmac was identified as the preferred supply chain partner, as they’d worked on the two previous schemes and have a nearby asphalt plant powered by bio-fuels and clean electricity.​ 

The initiative

The scheme took place in October 2024, after school summer holidays when weather and traffic flow were optimal. The aim was to take a holistic view of the scheme and reduce carbon at every step. We took steps to reduce carbon in three areas:  

• The materials we used  
• Our methods of working i.e. use of solar power and biofuels during construction  
• The lifespan of the products we used i.e. improved smooth surface with fewer joints and extended lifespan  

The outcome ​

The carbon savings were impressive with an estimated baseline of 321 tonnes of CO₂ being reduced to 96 tonnes – a 70% reduction in carbon.​ Lessons learned will be shared with our supply chain to inform future schemes so that low carbon working becomes business as usual. 

Identification of peatland restoration opportunities

Background

The M62, A626 and A57 are in the South Pennines and Peak District in North West England. All these roads run through moorlands which are predominantly peat-based.  

Acidic rain, which is caused by pollution generated by fossil-fuel burning, has led to the moors degrading over time and they are now drier than they should be. This means the area is at a higher risk of wildfire and is less able to absorb sporadic heavy rainfall. Both of these issues could potentially affect the roads running through the area.

MFFP is part of the Peak District National Park Authority and works with landowners and other partners such as Natural England, Environment Agency, National Trust and United Utilities, to name but a few.

The initiative

We provided funding for a feasibility study to identify land surrounding our network which would benefit most from peatland restoration activities. The land was assessed against a number of metrics, including natural flood management, wildfire mitigation, means of trapping carbon (sequestration), biodiversity gain and landscape enhancement for local communities.  

MFFP liaised with local landowners who are open to moorland restoration to identify areas where partnerships could be formed to ensure maximum benefits are achieved.  

The outcome

The feasibility study was completed in March 2025 and a report has been produced which identifies sites near to our network where further investment is recommended to deliver a wide range of benefits for the environment, local communities and National Highways.   

Meadow makers

Background

The Meadow Makers projects, a partnership between National Highways and Plantlife, will help restore the biodiversity of over 100 hectares of grasslands across seven sites in the South West and North East. Wildflower meadows across England and Wales have depleted by 97 per cent since the 1930s and the aim is to drive up grassland restoration, which focuses on creating an abundance and diversity of plants and fungi. 

The initiative

Our 15-year partnership, funded by £8 million from Designated Funds, aims to restore 100 hectares of grassland across seven sites: six in Devon and one in North Yorkshire. Activities will include the reintroduction of an annual hay cut and aftermath grazing regime, seed introduction to increase floral diversity, control of bracken encroaching on field margins, control of species indicative of sub-optimal condition, and the introduction of locally sourced green hay to boost biodiversity. 

The outcome

The Meadow Makers project will go beyond caring for the 3 per cent of wildflower meadows that remain in the UK and will work with third-party landowners to deliver restoration and creation on species-rich meadows.

By partnering with Plantlife, the ambition is for species-rich wildflower and waxcap grasslands to be restored and protected at scale. By 2040, it is hoped the project will contribute towards the wider goal of restoring 100,000 hectares of species-rich grassland. 

Image courtesy of Meg Bamford, Plantlife

Find out more

Press release: National Highways and Plantlife announce biodiversity boost

A38 Stover Park wetland

Collaborating to improve water quality and biodiversity.

Background

Stover Park lake at Stover Country Park in Devon is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Over the past 20 years, it had been slowly deteriorating, in part due to contaminated silt from the nearby A38 runoff. It needed a sustainable solution to mitigate contamination and enhance biodiversity.

The Initiative

The ambitious project to install a sustainable drainage system for the lake started in late November 2018. Completed in June 2019, it included the construction of two reed beds totalling 3800 square meters, to reduce the amount of pollutants being discharged into the reservoir.

Plans to improve biodiversity included the creation of a new wetland habitat, re-establishing species-rich grassland and the removal of 300 pine trees that were contributing to the acidification of water entering the lake.

Delivered in partnership between National Highways, Stover Country Park and Devon County Council, the project also had input and support from Natural England and the Environment Agency.

Results

The new habitats created by the sustainable reed beds and grassland has already seen biodiversity flourish, with Stover Country Park reporting its first sightings of the rare Lesser Emperor Dragonfly and Green Sandpiper.

The original budget for the project was nearly £4.5 million, however, through effective collaboration, the project team achieved a delivery cost of just over £2.9 million.