Time is right for the introduction of road user charging according to CIHT, which reaffirmed its commitment to tolling as the Coalition Government announced its Mid Term Review.

“Charging at both the national and local level has real potential to deliver social, environmental and economic benefits including a dedicated funding stream for transport infrastructure improvements and maintenance,” said CIHT Chief Executive Sue Percy.

The Coalition Government’s Mid Term Review set out what growth measures and infrastructure investment can be expected in the remainder of this Parliament. These include making available £40Bn in debt guarantees to encourage private sector infrastructure investment and a pledge to simplify planning processes to speed up delivery of projects.

“CIHT believes that the way the UK funds and delivers new infrastructure projects needs to change to ensure that the UK is able to compete globally," Ms Percy added. "Alternative funding models must satisfy the need for short, medium and longer term projects."

The Mid Term Review also reiterated promises of investment in the railways including creating an ‘electric spine’ from Yorkshire to Southampton, electrifying track in the South Wales Valleys, building a new rail link to Heathrow and supporting investment in the ‘Northern Hub’. Future road building projects outlined in the Review include improving the A1, creating a link from the A5 to the M1, improving the M3 and upgrading junction 30 of the M25 in Essex, all schemes announced in the Autumn Statement.

Business group CBI responded to the Review by saying road and rail building projects “are getting too bogged down in the planning and procurement process.” Director general John Cridland added that the current road funding model is unsustainable and Government should introduce a ‘regulatory asset base’ model to attract private investment.

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