The strategic road network (SRN) is vital to the success of the UK economy. Highways England supports the economy by ensuring safe, efficient, reliable journeys on our network of major roads. This allows goods to move through England and beyond.
Supporting economic growth is one of the five strategic objectives set out in our Strategic Business Plan. It influences everything that we do – both with our current work and our future investment planning.
We are delivering £15 billion of investment in England’s motorways and major A roads as described by the government’s Road Investment Strategy. This will deliver more than 100 schemes to increase capacity, transform connectivity, and improve the condition of the network.
We also make a significant contribution to the UK’s economy through our Growth and Housing Fund, our operation of the network, and through our role as statutory consultee in the planning system. We have published a strategic economic plan describing how we will work to increase our economic impact.
The Road to Growth: our Strategic Economic Growth Plan
The Road to Growth is our first strategic economic growth plan – a plan for maximising the economic impact of the SRN. It sets out new evidence about the SRN’s relationship with the economy, and explains how we will further increase our economic impact.
Our strategic plan is already influencing our activity, and will inform the next Road Investment Strategy. It will continue to influence our business and our investment decisions for many years ahead.
The Road to Growth sets out the practical steps we are taking to increase our economic contribution in 4 areas:
- Supporting business productivity and competitiveness, and enabling the performance of SRN–reliant sectors
- Providing efficient routes to global markets through international gateways
- Stimulating and supporting the sustainable development of homes and employment spaces
- Providing employment, skills and business opportunities within our sector
Most of the steps we have identified will be delivered in partnership with others, including national and sub-national transport bodies, local authorities, local enterprise partnerships, business sector organisations, and government agencies.
PDF, 4.32 MB, 41 pages
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email
info@highwaysengland.co.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
PDF, 7.53 MB, 74 pages
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email
info@highwaysengland.co.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
PDF, 8.6 MB, 92 pages
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email
info@highwaysengland.co.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
PDF, 604 KB, 22 pages
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email
info@highwaysengland.co.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
PDF, 2.93 MB, 52 pages
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email
info@highwaysengland.co.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
PDF, 1.14 MB, 16 pages
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email
info@highwaysengland.co.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
PDF, 435 KB, 8 pages
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email
info@highwaysengland.co.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
PDF, 9.81 MB, 96 pages
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email
info@highwaysengland.co.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Strategic planning
In September 2015 we launched our new planning guide – Planning for the Future: a guide to working with Highways England on planning matters which sets out our commitment to being a positive, proactive strategic planning partner. It describes what we look for in emerging local plans and development proposals.
Growth and Housing Fund
The Road Investment Strategy committed £100 million for a Growth and Housing Fund, to be developed and run by Highways England. This fund can provide an element of match funding for highways schemes that are needed to unlock stalled development sites.
PDF, 1.06 MB, 5 pages
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email
info@highwaysengland.co.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
PDF, 98.7 KB, 2 pages
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email
info@highwaysengland.co.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
PDF, 103 KB, 12 pages
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email
info@highwaysengland.co.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
If you want to know more or have ideas or views to share, email: growthandplanning@highwaysengland.co.uk
