The Department’s spending plans will be published in the Main Estimates. For the Strategic Road Network, the Department intends to announce its spending plans for the 2026-27 financial year in the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3), which is expected to be published by the end of Spring 2026. National Highways is also expected to publish its Delivery Plan for the RIS3 period in 2026.

There are no plans to publish officials’ advice to Ministers, as has been the usual practice of successive administrations, including the one the Rt Hon Lady served in.

The Department uses a five-dimension business case to inform decisions about transport investments, in line with the HM Treasury Green Book and the Department’s Transport Analysis Guidance. Within that, the Department considers benefits and costs in present value terms, as part of the overall business case. This includes strategic road schemes.

We are committed to providing transparency about our investment plans, to provide certainty and stability for industry and other stakeholders.

For schemes on the Strategic Road Network (SRN) and Major Road Network (MRN), £24 billion of capital funding is being provided between 2026-27 and 2029-30 to maintain and improve motorways and local roads. Scheme costs for the SRN schemes will be confirmed as part of the setting of the third Road Investment Strategy, planned to be published by the end of March 2026.

For MRN schemes, individual financial details cannot be provided as doing so would jeopardise procurement exercises and contract negotiations.

All rail projects referenced in the Secretary of State’s statement are fully funded from the £10.2bn allocated to enhancements over 2026/27-2029/30. We expect to provide further detail on scheme profiles in due course.

The National Infrastructure and Services Transformation Authority (NISTA) has also now published a first version of the Infrastructure Pipeline. All of the projects referred to in the Secretary of State’s statement are included in the Pipeline, although at a portfolio level. The Pipeline will be updated and improved every six months.

As announced on 8 July 2025, this Government inherited a series of commitments that could not be afforded. Therefore, the Secretary of State for Transport had to take the difficult decision not to progress the A12 (Chelmsford to A120) Widening Scheme.

The decision was based on evidence assessed against a wide range of criteria including (a) congestion, (b) road safety and (c) the economy and in line with the HMT Treasury Green Book and the Department’s Transport Analysis Guidance.

Business case documents, costs and benefit cost ratios for major schemes, including for the Strategic Road Network and for relevant schemes in the Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline are published on gov.uk.

For the A12 (Chelmsford to A120) widening scheme, information is already available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

For the wider set of 50 schemes referenced in the Secretary of State’s statement on 8 July 2025, detailed Green Book analyses, costs, and benefit cost ratios for each scheme have not been published as a single package.

The scheme-level business cases and economic assessments for projects in the Government Major Projects Portfolio are published as they are finalised and reach the appropriate stage in the investment process. Summary information on costs and benefit cost ratios for major transport schemes may also be found in the Department for Transport’s Major Projects Portfolio, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/major-projects-data

In the case of Major Road Network schemes, the business cases belong to the relevant local authorities. Whilst we encourage them to publish these, it is their decision whether to publish their business cases on their respective websites.

As each scheme progresses, further documentation is released and made available on gov.uk as appropriate. The Government is committed to transparency and will continue to make business case documents available in line with Green Book and Treasury guidance as schemes move forward.

It was announced in the Autumn Budget that Phase 2 of the Spending Review will conclude in late spring 2025. Until this time, it is not possible to assess the full impact of the extremely challenging financial inheritance this Government received on the A12 widening scheme and in turn its impact on (a) the economy and (b) road safety.

The third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) for the Strategic Road Network will cover the five-year period from April 2026 to March 2031. We plan to publish RIS3 by the end of 2025. The draft RIS, including the funding envelope, will be published in late spring 2025. An Interim Settlement for National Highways will be in place from April 2025, covering the 2025-26, as announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the 2024 Autumn Budget.

This Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local highway network. The Government will confirm 2025/26 funding allocations to English local highway authorities, including Essex County Council, in due course.

This Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local highway network. The Government will confirm 2025/26 funding allocations to English local highway authorities, including Essex County Council, in due course.

This Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local road network. Within the Budget on 30 October, the Chancellor announced that for the 2025/26 financial year there would be a £500 million increase for local highways maintenance funding in England, an increase of nearly 50% compared to the current financial year. Funding allocations for specific local highway authorities for 2025/26, including Essex County Council, will be confirmed in due course.

Funding allocations for individual local highway authorities beyond 2025/26 will be a matter for the forthcoming Spending Review.

This Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local road network. To this end, we will provide authorities with funding to help them fix up to one million more potholes across England in each year of this parliament.

Essex County Council will receive £34.5 million from the Department for Transport during 2024/25 to enable it to carry out its local highway maintenance responsibilities. Funding for future years is a matter for the Spending Review.

On 30 July 2024, the Secretary of State announced that she was commissioning a review of the Department’s capital spend portfolio.

This review will support the development of our long-term strategy for transport, developing a modern and integrated network with people at its heart, ensuring that transport infrastructure can be delivered efficiently and on time.

Major investment decisions are a matter for the forthcoming Spending Review.

The Department recognises the importance of addressing the issue of litter on trunk roads, as per the responsibilities laid out in Section 89 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. We work closely with local authorities to resolve local issues as far as is practicable and support them in fulfilling their obligations under the law. This includes regular inspections and audits, as well as feedback from the public and other stakeholders. If any issues are identified, we work with the local authorities to address them, which may involve providing additional resources or training.

The Department takes the issue of litter on trunk roads very seriously. We are committed to working with local authorities to keep our roads free of litter and refuse, creating a cleaner and safer environment for all. Together, we can make significant progress in addressing this issue and creating a better future for our communities.

The Department recognises the importance of addressing the issue of litter on trunk roads, as per the responsibilities laid out in Section 89 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. We work closely with local authorities to resolve local issues as far as is practicable and support them in fulfilling their obligations under the law. This includes regular inspections and audits, as well as feedback from the public and other stakeholders. If any issues are identified, we work with the local authorities to address them, which may involve providing additional resources or training.

The Department takes the issue of litter on trunk roads very seriously. We are committed to working with local authorities to keep our roads free of litter and refuse, creating a cleaner and safer environment for all. Together, we can make significant progress in addressing this issue and creating a better future for our communities.

A trunk road is classified as special if are restrictions on the types of vehicles which can use them, for example a Motorway. The Government has no plans to alter this definition.

Under Section 86 of the Environmental Protection Act (1990) any transfer of litter clearance responsibility would need to be requested by National Highways after consultations with relevant Local Authorities. It is important to take a proportionate, evidence-based approach which recognises the pressures on Local Authority resources and costs associated with roadside litter clearance. The Government expects National Highways to work collaboratively with Local Authorities to solve local issues and keep roadsides clear of litter and refuse as far as is practicable.

The Department recognises the importance of addressing the issue of litter on trunk roads, as per the responsibilities laid out in Section 89 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. We work closely with local authorities to resolve local issues as far as is practicable and support them in fulfilling their obligations under the law. This includes regular inspections and audits, as well as feedback from the public and other stakeholders. If any issues are identified, we work with the local authorities to address them, which may involve providing additional resources or training.

The Department takes the issue of litter on trunk roads very seriously. We are committed to working with local authorities to keep our roads free of litter and refuse, creating a cleaner and safer environment for all. Together, we can make significant progress in addressing this issue and creating a better future for our communities.