The Buchanan Report: Missing, Presumed Wiped – DfT on Film

In 1963 the then-Ministry of Transport announced one of its biggest reports of all time – the Buchanan Report – which aimed to resolve the growing tide of traffic thought to be swamping Britain’s streets. No expense was spared in selling this to the public, including a 30-minute film about what the plans were, and why they were needed.

For fifty years, no one in DfT had seen this film. However, recently a copy came to light on a VHS cassette in the cupboard at Jacobs. On 10th March, with the help of CIHT we’ll be screening it to civil servants for the first time in half a century.

This isn’t just a matter of roads: the film shows something very rare indeed – footage of what working in the then-Ministry of Transport was like in the 1960s. Come along to see the men and women who will propose to us forward to the year 2000! Or, failing that, to see what government comms looked like in an age of Ford Anglias and deferential interviewers.

This will be followed by a panel discussion about the Buchanan Report, featuring [Buchanan’s grandson and noted transport economist Paul Buchanan, ex-CIHT president Andreas Markides and DfT’s Michael Dnes]. The Buchanan Report remains the most influential document in the history of DfT, and the panel will discuss the forces that shaped it and the dramatic consequences of what followed.

Please note that this event will be held at lunchtime at DfT offices and there is a limited number of seats available for CIHT members. DfT staff do not need to book – simply turn up on the day.

Who is the event for?

It will be for a variety of DfT people and CIHT members.

Why you can't miss the event

Exclusive opportunity to see rare footage - not seen for fifty years
Q&A Session
Debate / Discussion around subject
CPD

About the Speakers

Michael Dnes, Head of RIS2, Future RIS at DfT

Michael Dnes is the head of DfT’s 2020-25 strategic roads strategy (RIS2) and played a key role in the formation of Highways England. Away from the day-job, he has just published The Rise and Fall of London’s Ringways, about London’s plans in the 1960s for a massive network of urban motorways.

Andreas Markides, MD at Markides Associates

Past President of CIHT (2017/2018) and chairman of Colin Buchanan and Partners. He is currently the MD of Markides Associates.

Paul Buchanan, Economist at Volterra Partners

Paul Buchanan, grandson of Sir Colin Buchanan, is a transport economist who started his career at Halcrow Fox many years ago. Led the economic appraisal of the JLE through the House of Commons and House of Lords Committee hearings. Subsequently led the appraisals of Crossrail and was lead economist for Crossrail from 2001 to 2007.