SOUTH MIDLANDS

This StoryMap is an abridged version of our full-length PDF report. To view the PDF and to also provide your feedback, please see the links at the end of this interactive report.

In this report, we detail the route context, current constraints on the route, and opportunities for improved connections with local roads and rail links. We set out intelligence-led route objectives aligned with the Department for Transport's six strategic objectives. These objectives aim to ensure the route can serve its function, while mitigating the identified constraints and challenges. They conclude with locations for further consideration to achieve the route objectives. The route objectives and locations for further consideration will be presented to the Department for Transport to inform future decision-making about investment planning through the Road Investment Strategy (RIS). It should be recognised that not all aspirations outlined in this report can be funded or delivered.

We recognise that there are existing challenges and issues on the network and these are outlined against the Department for Transport's (DfT's) six strategic objectives as part of the route strategy evidence base.

All our route strategies need to show how they contribute to the delivery of the Department for Transport's six strategic objectives for our network, to ensure we meet future challenges. These help us create relevant, meaningful and effective strategies that address evolving concerns. Such concerns include decarbonisation, ecology, the need for new homes and the desire for a better connected country.

We want to provide safer and more reliable journeys for all those who use or live alongside our network on the South Midlands route, and help the region achieve its economic and housing growth ambitions. Based on our engagement and data analysis, we have defined six route objectives for the area.

We developed the route objectives based on:

• feedback from customers and neighbors
• opportunities to collaborate with other network operators
• constraints and challenges
• how best to contribute to the Department for Transport's (DfT's) six strategic objectives

Each route strategy includes a series of specific route-based objectives. These objectives, informed by extensive data analysis and engagement with customers and neighbours, set out our ambition for each route. Although route objectives are route-specific, they should also be considered in the context of our commitments and ambitions for the whole network, as per our Licence agreement. This means that, while we may identify certain locations within a route for further consideration, we will seek to address these locations in line with our ongoing commitment to achieving our safety, environmental and technology obligations across the strategic road network.

It should be noted that there is overlap between the objectives, and we recognise they cannot be considered in isolation from each other.

The below maps for each route objective are for illustrative purposes only and do not explicit define the precise extents of objectives.

We know the importance that investment in our network can make locally, regionally and nationally. It can make areas more attractive for inward investment, unlock new sites for employment and housing, and facilitate regeneration. It can also ease congestion, improve our customers’ journeys and support environmental improvements in urban and rural communities along our network.

We outline our proposed locational areas for further consideration, which will be explored in future road periods to achieve the South Midlands route objectives and the Department for Transport’s (DfT's) six strategic objectives. These do not represent a commitment as funding will be considered as part of the development of the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS) and beyond as well as other investment processes. Furthermore, they do not represent a final list of our potential investment locations and will be refined in our final Route strategy overview report, published alongside our RIS3 Strategic business plan and Delivery plan for 2025-2030.

Our route strategies allow informed decisions to be made about our network. They have informed our  Strategic Road Network (SRN) initial report , which sets our vision and priorities for the third road period (2025–2030) and beyond (from 2030). They are a forward planning tool for National Highways and our interested parties in their decision making, helping identify locations on our network for further consideration to inform investment opportunities, as well as to support decisions in prioritising potential solutions to enable us to continue to operate and maintain our network.

For both the Route strategy initial overview reports and  Connecting the country: Our long-term strategic plan to 2050 , there will be an opportunity for stakeholders, road users and communities to provide their feedback. This will be alongside the Department for Transport's separate consultation on the  SRN initial report  published at the same time. The 20 finalised Route strategy reports and Our long-term strategic plan to 2050 will be published by 2025, the end of the current road period (2020-2025), informing the Strategic business plan and the Delivery plan.

Please click the button below to view the full-length report.

Please click the button below to provide your feedback.

To view another Route strategy, please  click here  to return to our landing page. For further information relating to route strategies, please visit  our website , or  email us  directly.