Environmental Sustainability Strategy
Our Vision: A connected country. A thriving environment
Our 2050 vision is to provide a road network that supports the country’s transport needs but also protects and strengthens the natural environment and community wellbeing.
Our economy, livelihoods and wellbeing are dependent on the natural world and we have a moral and economic duty to protect, restore and enhance the environment. We must manage what we take today and ensure we leave a thriving planet for future generations.
Our strategic framework
We recognise that environmental issues are complex and interconnected. Their management demands an integrated approach.
Realising our vision means delivering ambitious, positive change for:
Nature
We will restore and enhance a richer, resilient and more biodiverse environment.
Carbon
We will deliver net zero:
- corporate emissions by 2030
- maintenance and construction emissions by 2040
- road user emissions by 2050
Communities
We will support community wellbeing by:
- tackling local environmental impacts
- increasing climate resilience
Our priorities
We’ve identified nine priority areas where we can deliver the most benefit for carbon, communities and nature.
Here are our ambitions and key commitments for each of our priority areas.
These are the short to medium term building blocks of our 2050 vision.
Our roadmap
to an environmentally sustainable network
We will
Establish the soft estate as an asset class.
Make investment decisions in accordance with PAS 2080 investment hierarchy.
We will
Develop environmental decision tools
Report on opportunities for nature-based solutions
Map network-wide flood risks
Develop air quality research programme
Create environmental sustainability opportunities register
Develop roadmap for reduced road operational infrastructure
Establish principles of environmentally responsible sourcing
We will
Establish characteristics of Strategic Road Network corridors
Involve communities in the environmental design of schemes
Collate and maintain comprehensive environmental condition data
Deliver at least 10% biodiversity net gain on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects
Deliver a programme of nature-based solutions
Improve network resilience to flooding
Enhance landscape scale connectivity
Pilot a programme of urban environmental improvements
Improve customer experience of cultural heritage
Enhance cultural heritage on and adjacent to our network
Publish nitrogen deposition guidance
Implement noise mitigation programme
Report on persistent pollution resulting from our network
Deliver water outfalls mitigation programme
Trial resource exchange mechanism
Embed circularity into design, construction, maintenance and operations
Research and action on tyre and brake pollution
Be net zero for our own operations by 2030
Implement improvements to areas of high landscape and recreational value
Act on findings to reduce pollution and enhance the environment through vehicle connectivity
We will
Deliver a demonstrator project with multiple benefits through partnership
Maintain land designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest to favourable status or better
Deliver net zero for maintenance and construction by 2040
Deliver zero carbon travel on our roads by 2050