UK road funding cut
The UK's department for transport (DfT) recently announced that from 2026 to 2031 GBP 24.9 billion will be allocated to the third road investment strategy (Ris3).
This represents a 10% reduction compared to Ris2 (2020–25), raising concerns that the lower budget could hamper economic growth, as the Road Haulage Association (RHA) reported. The RHA, the UK's trade body for HGV, LGV and coach activities, warned in a statement that insufficient investment in new roads risks long-term impacts on haulage, coach and van businesses, with congestion already costing more than GBP 30 billion annually.
The government’s housebuilding programme for 1.5 million homes by 2029 also depends on efficient transport links, the association stated. Schemes promoted by the RHA, such as the Lower Thames Crossing, the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine, the A46 Newark bypass and the M60 Simister Island road, have been approved. (js)