The government’s reform effort, which started in 2014–15, has improved taxpayer value for money, led to more effective planning of road maintenance and upgrades, and given the supply chain greater trust, according to the report.
The transition from the Highways Agency to Highways England, a government-owned corporation that is now National Highways, was one of the modifications.
A five-year funding agreement was also included to enable better planning for the ongoing effort to maintain the strategic road network (SRN), which consists of major A-roads and highways.
This was aided by new oversight and monitoring duties managed by the Office of Rail and Road and Transport Focus, as well as a threefold increase in annual network investment, which reached £4.5 billion.
The reforms have been assessed by Ipsos Mori and Risk Solution in a number of publications released in 2016 and 2019.
The third and final evaluation was released today and was based on reviews of National Highways’ work as well as interviews with suppliers, road user groups, and external stakeholders.
The modifications were intended to enhance road users’ experiences, give taxpayers value for money, and support growth by allowing for quicker and more effective travel across the nation.
The reforms “have been effective in improving how the SRN is managed, and that they have had positive effects on value for money and road users’ experience,” according to the report released today.
According to it, it has also produced sizable cost savings due to increased efficiency.
Five-year Road Investment Strategies have given National Highways more funding certainty over longer periods, increasing dependability and flexibility in project delivery and supplier selection.
According to Nick Harris, CEO of National Highways:
The ability to manage the network strategically and creatively while maintaining strong relationships with our stakeholders has made a significant difference in how we conduct business.
Our ultimate goal is to make the strategic road network as safe and secure as possible, and greater financial stability gives us more leeway to think through the best ways to support both that strategy and our customers.
According to the report,
Compared to a target of £1.21 billion, National Highways has saved money through efficiency in the first five years by £1.45 billion.
This was done in the midst of the organization’s tremendous growth and the completion of a work programme that had been greatly increased.
The changes, in the opinion of the stakeholders, have given National Highways “more scope to consider what will be needed in the future and has allowed National Highways to identify and focus on the most important long-term priorities rather than frequently switching between issues attracting attention at a particular time”;
“Better consideration of the requirements and experiences of its customers,” including those individuals and organisations using the SRN as well as localities close to the network, has resulted from the transition from the Highways Agency to an independent government-owned enterprise;
Interviewees stated that “greater stability in the upgrade programme with fewer projects being cancelled at short notice, and better planning and coordination of work” had resulted from the financing certainty;
Longer-term contracts and direct agreements with smaller suppliers gave suppliers more security and led to “better efficiency in the operation of the SRN”;
The supply chain was reportedly motivated to “invest in capabilities and infrastructure, and better ways of working through innovation” as a result of the improved trust;
National Highways is now more accountable and has a stronger focus on performance that is outcome- and customer-based thanks to the formalisation of monitor and watchdog positions for the highway system.
The assessment coincides with the release of National Highways’ most recent efficiency report.
The company has achieved a cumulative year two efficiency milestone of £471 million, demonstrating that it is still on track to meet its goals for providing the taxpayer with better value for money.