Queens Speech: "Legislation will support a lifetime skills guarantee to enable flexible access to high quality education and training throughout people’s lives [Skills and Post-16 Education Bill]."

CIHT supports efforts to improve skills and capabilities and calls on government to work with the highways and transportation sector to produce a clear plan for developing the workforce to deliver a National Transport Strategy and increase opportunities for expansion into the global transport infrastructure market. 

Skills development is a key area of concern for the growth and progression of the highways and transportation industry. Industry trends show that with fewer graduates entering and an ageing current workforce, action must be taken to secure the pipeline of skilled engineers and transportation professionals for the future.

We would like to see:

• Improved capability across the sector – giving certainty for organisations to invest in the development of their workforce, increase capacity and deliver change at pace
• Different skills to deliver a changing agenda – creating an environment that supports a wider and more inclusive workforce and encourages diversity of thought to provide innovative transport solutions
• Highways Sector Council – supporting a single voice for the sector to monitor skills needs and advise on priorities.

Queens Speech: “To achieve this, my Government will level up opportunities across all parts of the United Kingdom, supporting jobs, businesses and economic growth and addressing the impact of the pandemic on public services.” 

 “My Government will strengthen the economic ties across the union, investing in and improving national infrastructure.” 

CIHT welcomed the Union Connectivity Review as we have been pressing for a strategy that brings together transport, planning, and development within a wider pan-UK context.  The review - as set out - is right to look at not just economic factors for investment in transport but elements pertaining to quality of life and environmental factors.  The importance of transport investment not being detrimental to biodiversity is vital.  The legally binding 2050 target for net zero must bind every decision by every government department to ensure that, the decisions they make, support that aim.  

See CIHT’s response to the Union Connectivity Review here. 

CIHT and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), The Transport Planning Society (TPS) and the Local Government Technical Advisers Group (LGTAG), in consultation with officers from the Local Government Association (LGA), have also corresponded with the Department for Transport on issues related to appraisal and are now working with the DfT on developing and issuing new transport related appraisal guidance reflecting the concerns about how transport projects are appraised fairly and in a way that achieves the best outcomes.  

Queens Speech: “My Government will help more people to own their own home whilst enhancing the rights of those who rent. Laws to modernise the planning system, so that more homes can be built, will be brought forward, along with measures to end the practice of ground rents for new leasehold properties [Planning Bill, Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill]. My Ministers will establish in law a new Building Safety Regulator to ensure that the tragedies of the past are never repeated [Building Safety Bill].” 

CIHT has submitted responses to consultations on planning reform highlighting that the integration of planning and transport plays a fundamental role in making development sustainable by putting it in the right places needs to be recognised throughout the document and therefore that the document should be clear on the criteria for siting development.   

In CIHT’s submission to the planning white paper we highlighted our immediate and pressing observation that the White Paper fails to address the critical inter-relationship of planning and transport. On this basis - the proposed radical changes to the planning system as currently set out will fail to do any better than before. 

CIHT’s response to the Planning White Paper contains recommendations for the government to improve its proposals. 

The choice and availability of sustainable travel choices is a key factor for sustainable development. This needs to be a fundamental part of the planning process and recognise that transport authorities and operators need to be involved throughout the planning process. By involving them from initiating the local or strategic plan to the determination of planning applications they become part of the solution rather than a hurdle to be overcome.  

Queen’s Speech: “My Government will invest in new green industries to create jobs, while protecting the environment. The United Kingdom is committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and will continue to lead the way internationally by hosting the COP26 Summit in Glasgow. Legislation will set binding environmental targets [Environment Bill].”

The Environment Bill delayed from the last parliamentary session will put into law the green-house gas reduction targets recommended by the Committee for Climate Change last December. CIHT’s Route to Net Zero project is identifying a package of actions to support the profession play a full role in achieving the CCC’s interim goal of a 78% emissions reduction (against 1990 levels) by 2035. CIHT members will be consulted on draft proposals this Summer. 

See more about CIHT’s Route to Net Zero project here.

CIHT also recommends that the government launches a review into if and how a fair road pricing system could be used as a traffic demand mechanism in efforts to decarbonise transport and fund transport infrastructure as taxes raised from motoring are set to diminish significantly in the next few years. CIHT would support a fair road pricing system as one tool for decarbonising transport and improvements to public transport, active travel and electrification of the transport network are other key areas that needs to be accelerated.