Highways Agency

Letter to consultees

4/38
St Christopher House
Southwark Street
LONDON SE1 0TE

Direct Line: 0171 921 4212
Fax: 0171 921 3982

12 September 2000

Dear Sir or Madam

THE CONTROL OF DEVELOPMENT ON TRUNK ROADS - CONSULTATION DRAFT

Since 1994, the Secretary of State's responsibility for the day to day operation of the trunk road network has been exercised by the Highways Agency. That will continue to be the case but, in the July 1998 White Paper "A New Deal for Transport : Better for Everyone", the Government set the Agency new objectives. The White Paper redefined the Agency's strategic aim as being "to contribute to sustainable development by maintaining, improving and operating the trunk road network in support of integrated transport and land use policies". It also recognised the contribution that development control policy could make to the achievement of that aim, and undertook to issue more detailed advice in due course.

The attached draft circular, issued on a consultative basis, delivers on that commitment. It updates earlier advice on the highway, and wider transport, considerations which planning authorities will be expected to take into account when assessing planning applications for development affecting trunk roads. It also gives guidance on when, and the extent to which, it may be necessary for highway reasons to restrict such development. The advice is confined to trunk roads, that is, roads for which the Secretary of State is the highway authority. More general guidance on highway considerations in development control is given in Planning Policy Guidance Note 13 (Transport).

The circular also covers the arrangements under section 278 of the Highways Act 1980 through which the Agency will secure developer funding for highway improvements and commuted sums for their future maintenance.

It supersedes guidance given in Circular Roads 4/88 and 6/91 both of which are to be cancelled in favour of this circular. It also builds on the guidance published in conjunction with the statement of 10 July 1996 by the then Minister for Roads. Unlike CR 4/88, this Circular does not deal with policy on service areas on all-purpose trunk roads. We intend to consolidate advice on service area issues in a revision of CR 1/94 which will address service provision on both motorways and other trunk roads.

Comments are invited by 30 October on this draft guidance, which also appears on our web site www.highways.gov.uk. I would be grateful if you could reference your comments to the appropriate paragraph number.

Responses should be sent to:

Paul Tucker
QS TSE (LUS)
Rm 5/44
St Christopher House
Southwark St
London
SE1 OTE
Tel: 020 7921 4339
E-mail: paul.tucker@highways.gsi.gov.uk

Copies of all responses received will be placed in the HA Library and Information Centre in St Christopher House, and can be accessed throughout the consultation period by prior appointment (tel: 0207 921 4614) unless respondents ask for them to be treated as confidential.

Yours sincerely

Mike Garnham
Divisional Director (Acting)
Traffic, Safety & Environment