What if the way we manage our roads, verges and kerbsides could actively restore nature, reduce carbon emissions and create healthier, more sustainable communities? Could rethinking everyday highways practices help deliver lasting environmental and social benefits without relying on major new infrastructure? This session will explore award-winning projects that challenge conventional approaches to highway management. From transforming vegetation management into a regenerative, circular process on Devon’s A382, to embedding sustainable development through Hackney’s innovative Green Kerb approach to parking and enforcement, the session will examine how practical, place-based interventions can deliver measurable outcomes for climate, biodiversity and local communities. Together, these case studies will demonstrate how innovation in everyday highways management can help shape a more resilient and sustainable future.

What you’ll learn

• Rethinking highways management: How everyday practices, from vegetation management to kerbside policy, can help deliver more sustainable, resilient and nature-positive transport networks
• Innovation in action: Lessons from the A382 LiveLabs2 Vegetation Strategy and Hackney's Green Kerb approach, demonstrating how practical interventions can reduce carbon, enhance biodiversity and improve local communities
• Embedding sustainability into practice: What these award-winning projects reveal about integrating climate action, circular economy principles and sustainable development into the day-to-day management of highways and transport infrastructure

Learning outcomes

By the end of the session, you’ll understand:

• How innovative approaches to vegetation management and kerbside policy can support climate action, biodiversity enhancement and more resilient communities
• How practical, place-based interventions can reduce carbon, improve environmental outcomes and embed sustainable development into everyday highways practice
• How to integrate circular economy principles, nature-based solutions and smarter management approaches into future transport planning and delivery

Why attend?

• Free to CIHT Members
• Excellent CPD opportunity
• Learn about the latest challenges and leaned lessons in designing and implementing schemes or projects that promote sustainable transport.  
• Interactive Q&A with industry experts 

Who is this masterclass for?

This masterclass is open to all CIHT members, CIHT partner employees, BCoE members and non-members. This masterclass is free for all CIHT and BCoE members to attend and is charged for CIHT Partner Employees and non-members.  

Speaker details:

Habiba Muhibun Nessa

Habiba is a Parking Policy and Projects Officer at Hackney Council, with a background in consultation, stakeholder engagement and the delivery of sustainable transport policy.

Habiba is at the forefront of sustainability and transport decarbonisation within Hackney, leading the delivery of the borough's award-winning Parking and Enforcement Plan 2022–27. Her work focuses on embedding sustainability, accessibility and social equity into parking policy, ensuring kerbside management supports Hackney's commitment to net zero while creating greener streets and more sustainable places. She has led major initiatives including the implementation of Hackney's motorcycle parking policy and the introduction of the Community Support Permit.

Beth Lewis 

Beth is a chartered civil engineer and principal engineer at Devon County Council, where she leads complex and innovative transport projects including the A382 scheme and Devon’s Live Labs 2 programme, focused on low carbon highway infrastructure.