The author of the Government’s Union Connectivity Review said such a network – based on the European TEN-T corridor model – would allow transport appraisals for schemes to be undertaken on a UK wide basis, limiting the risk of cross border projects falling down the list of priorities.

But ambitions to build a fixed link between Scotland and Northern Ireland have been thwarted. Sir Peter wrote that while the economic and social effects of a bridge or tunnel would be “transformational”, the “costs would be impossible to justify”. As a result, he recommends to Government that further work on the fixed link should not progress.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he accepts this conclusion. “It is a visionary project whose time might come in future decades, but not now.”

Further recommendations made in the Union Connectivity Review include investing in the West Coast Main Line north of Crewe and assessing the East Coast rail and road corridors to determine ways of improving connections between England and Scotland.

Upgrading the A75 in Scotland to improve freight and passenger connections with Northern Ireland is also proposed. For north Wales, the plan includes upgrading the A55, M53 and M56 and the North Wales Coast mainline.

In south Wales it is recommended that highway junctions are improved with the M4, M5 and M32, along with better rail links between Cardiff and the Midlands.

The Transport Secretary added that Sir Peter’s recommendations will be carefully considered and that the Government will engage with the devolved administrations on the proposals.

But a spokesman for the Scottish Government said of the review: “Transport is devolved to Holyrood, and the UK Government should respect that. We will always seek to engage constructively with the UK Government – for example, on cross border rail and our shared desire for High Speed 2 to serve Scotland – but UK Ministers have no role in deciding investment in Scotland’s trunk roads.”

Northern Ireland’s Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon welcomed the review. “It is no surprise that Sir Peter Hendy has confirmed that the costs of a tunnel or a bridge between Northern Ireland and Scotland would be impossible to justify. It is completely sensible that no further work will be taken forward on that proposal and that the review has rightly turned to the many more pressing infrastructure needs."

She added that the focus of the British Government now has to be on providing funding to deliver projects outlined in the review.

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We’re pleased Sir Peter Hendy has endorsed the ‘Welsh way’ of improving transport across Wales. This is multi-modal and sustainable and works with partners.

“He does not resurrect plans for an M4 relief road as a way of relieving congestion around Newport. Instead, the Union Connectivity Review supports the Burns Commission recommendations. It also calls for greater investment in upgrading our railways and the creation of new stations. We continue to call on the UK Government to reverse its historic under funding of rail infrastructure in Wales to allow this to happen.”

The Confederation of British Industry’s chief policy director Matthew Fell remarked that creation of a UK strategic transport network will be particularly welcomed by businesses. “Strong collaboration between the UK and devolved governments will be vital to making this vision a reality,” he added.

(Photograph: Sue Rae Edmondson - Shutterstock)