Work of National Highways

Status / emerging findings

• Office of Rail and Road has criticised National Highways' benefits measurement frameworks; the organisation acknowledges this but claims its value-for-money processes are already robust
• Committee pressed National Highways on what learning or value emerged from recently cancelled capital schemes; witnesses offered limited evidence of knowledge capture despite claiming cost-effective closure
• Interim CEO Nick Joyce signalled he will make major strategic decisions immediately rather than waiting for permanent appointment, positioning himself as a substantive leader
• National Highways has shifted from fixed performance targets to target ranges on key metrics like delay management—a change the ORR has characterised critically

Why it matters

£27 billion in public money is being committed to road infrastructure over five years; if National Highways cannot demonstrate robust cost control and genuine public benefit, taxpayers have no assurance their investment is being used effectively.

Tone arc

Started procedural (governance and RIS3 priorities) but turned critical after the ORR's regulatory findings emerged, with the Committee pressing for clarity on cancelled schemes and value measurement.

Key witnesses

Nick Joyce (interim chief executive, National Highways), Gareth Rhys Williams (National Highways), Elliot Shaw (National Highways), Nicola Bell (National Highways), Duncan Smith (National Highways), Office of Rail and Road (regulator)