Date set for courtroom clash on national policy statement

The date for a judicial review challenge to the Government’s National Networks National Policy Statement (NNNPS) has been set for 9-10 April at the High Court.

The campaign group Transport Action Network (TAN) will contend that the NNNPS, which provides planning guidance for road schemes, fails as a policy framework to properly support the UK’s 2050 net zero target, and that it will hinder the UK’s efforts to move towards greater use of public transport and active travel.

It added that the issues at stake have become more important following the Government’s decision to relax rules surrounding the move to zero emission vehicles.

The Government announced in July 2021 that it would be reviewing the NNNPS and launched a consultation on the policy in March 2023. An inquiry by the Transport Select Committee the following October concluded that the new draft of the policy framework would need to be amended to align it with net zero targets. However, these recommendations were rejected by the Government.

Rowan Smith, the solicitor representing TAN, said: ‘We look forward to arguing on TAN’s behalf that, in reviewing the NNNPS, the Secretary of State for Transport unlawfully ignored calls from the public to turn away from road-building towards greater investment in public transport and active travel, and failed to consult fairly on planning rules governing the decarbonisation of the road network.’

The DfT was approached for comment.

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