Guidance

Planning and the strategic road network in England

Find out about Highways England’s approach to planning, the issues we look at when considering draft planning documents and planning applications.

• From: Highways England
• Published: 16 September 2015
• Last updated: 3 October 2018 — See all updates

This guidance was withdrawn on 20 July 2021

For the latest pre-application planning advice go to the National Highways’ website.

Highways England is a statutory consultee in the planning system and aims to be a proactive planning partner.

You should use Planning for the future: guide to working with Highways England on planning matters (PDF, 3.47 MB, 36 pages) if you are involved in plan making, development management/promotion or decision taking for land close to any part of Highways England’s strategic road network. For example as a member of a:

• local authority
• developer
• Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)
• community group

We can work with you to:

• consider the most appropriate locations for development
• develop strong policies and proposals that are sustainable, practical and well-designed
• make the best of opportunities around our routes
• assess potential impact on the Highways England road network
• consider how best to deliver the development
• minimise adverse impact
• assess requirements for mitigation works

Planning for the future: guide to working with Highways England on planning matters

PDF, 3.47 MB, 36 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.

The document is written in the context of statutory responsibilities as set out in our Licence, and in the light of government policy and regulation, including the National Planning Policy Framework and Department for Transport Circular The Strategic Road Network and the delivery of sustainable development.

The Town And Country Planning (Development Affecting Trunk Roads) Direction 2018

PDF, 122 KB, 1 page

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.

This document is the direction made by the Secretary of State for Transport under section 77 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, which sets out the requirement for local planning authorities to consult the Secretary of State where it does not propose to determine a planning application in accordance with Highways England’s formal recommendation.

Contacts

National Growth & Economic Development team: growthandplanning@highwaysengland.co.uk

Regional teams:

South East: planningSE@highwaysengland.co.uk

South West: planningSW@highwaysengland.co.uk

East of England: planningEE@highwaysengland.co.uk

Midlands: planningM@highwaysengland.co.uk

North West: planningNW@highwaysengland.co.uk

Yorkshire & North East: planningYNE@highwaysengland.co.uk

If you are unsure which regional team to contact you can view Regional leads by county and local authority (PDF, 222 KB, 5 pages).

Published 16 September 2015
Last updated 3 October 2018 + show all updates

1. 3 October 2018

   Added document: The Town And Country Planning (Development Affecting Trunk Roads) Direction 2018

2. 16 September 2015

   First published.