National Spatial Planning Contract 2021

The spatial planning contract is to support Highways England to participate in all stages of the planning process.

Working closely with and partnering alongside regional and local planning authorities, local highway/transport authorities, public transport providers and developers will ensure that Highways England's aims and objectives, along with other national and regional aims and objectives, can be aligned and met.

This contract will provide advice that will assist Highways England in its role of operating and maintaining the strategic road network (SRN) ensuring the interest of the Secretary of State for Transport are protected. The advice will focus on traffic, safety and environmental impacts on the SRN through, integrated regional strategies, local development frameworks and ultimately through planning applications.

Highways England may require advice in the following areas:

(a) planning applications and development management, (b) combined impact of developments, (c) highways assessments, (d) planning conditions, (e) infrastructure delivery, (f) traffic modelling, (g) economic impacts of development, (h) safety appraisal, (i) environmental assessment, (j) accessibility, (k) growth studies, scheme evaluation and land use/transport models, (l) large scale study work, (m) nationally significant infrastructure projects and development consent orders, (n) public inquiries, appeals, lands tribunals and examinations in public, (o) roadside facilities.