WSP secures £2.2m deal to advise National Highways on net zero plans

WSP has won a £2.2m contract to advise National Highways for the next two years on the delivery of its net zero commitments.

The consultancy firm was part of the team that helped originally develop the road operator's Net Zero Highways strategy, which was launched in 2021.

WSP will now provide technical and management support to National Highways until 2024, helping with the delivery of net zero commitments for direct operations (by 2030), maintenance and construction (by 2040) and road travel (by 2050).

David Symons (pictured), UK director of Sustainability at WSP and project director, said: 'We’re proud to have been reappointed to lead the work with National Highways to implement their world class net zero plan.

'The next few years are critical to get the UK on track for net zero and National Highways has a key role in leading the innovation needed to decarbonise UK construction and transport.'

Stephen Elderkin, director of environmental sustainability for National Highways, said: 'Last July we set out our ambitious plan to achieve net zero for corporate, construction and user emissions. The focus is now on implementing it. I look forward to working with WSP to deliver against our commitments and take a big step forward to a sustainable transport system and make a major contribution to delivering the UK’s climate targets.'

In October 2020, WSP announced a commitment to halve the carbon footprint of all designs and advice provided to clients by 2030, thought to be a first in the engineering consultancy sector.