Skip to main content

ACE makes recommendations to government on UK road funding

The UK Government must introduce dynamic road user charging in the UK over the long-term; with initial steps to be taken now and a suggested start date of 2030, according to a new report from ACE. Called ‘Funding roads for the future: Creating a more productive and sustainable road network in England’ it presented a series of recommendations on how to improve road network funding and how revenue from associated taxes can be sustained for future needs.
January 25, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
The UK Government must introduce dynamic road user charging in the UK over the long-term; with initial steps to be taken now and a suggested start date of 2030, according to a new report from ACE. Called ‘Funding roads for the future: Creating a more productive and sustainable road network in England’ it presented a series of recommendations on how to improve road network funding and how revenue from associated taxes can be sustained for future needs.


This inquiry stated that the growing uptake of zero-emission vehicles will create problems for funding roads as the revenue from Vehicle Excise Duty and Fuel Duty will continue to decline as a percentage of the UK’s GDP in the future. It also categorised funding for local roads as a struggling area due to the tight budgets of local authorities who often miss out on the investment required.

In addition, it highlighted that the government needs to look at new options to tackle congestion and to ensure that the road network is fit-for-purpose for the future with budgetary constraints.

Other proposals include reforming the Vehicle Excise Duty and Heavy Goods Vehicle Road User Levy to ensure these taxes raise sufficient revenue for the National Roads Fund from 2020-21. It specified that the government needs to increase the overall funding for local roads with a suggested Local Roads Fund, ringfenced through a proportion of revenue from Fuel Duty, as a medium-term solution. Additionally, A National Road Strategy outlining the overall approach of all funding programs for roads, including how investments could unlock productivity and achieve economic benefits. It also proposed replacing the Community Infrastructure levy (CIL) with a better designed Local Infrastructure Tariff, in line with CIL Review Group's recommendations.

More recommendations are available in a full copy of the report %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external here false https://www.acenet.co.uk/Documents/Files/ACE%20Funding%20Roads%20for%20the%20Future.pdf false false%>.

Related Content

  • Innovative parking control system from Propark
    March 24, 2014
    Polish company Propark has developed a novel parking program. This is said to make management of parking areas easier and more efficient and the company claims the system lowers running costs and maintenance needs, while also boosting cost effectiveness. The system best suits duties in small to medium-sized parking lots and its simplicity is said to ensure that it requires minimal training to use. Its speed and efficiency is said to reduce queues by speeding up transactions. Effective control is offered of
  • Uber granted London licence for just two months
    September 25, 2019
    Transport for London (TfL) has issued Uber London with just a two-month private hire operator licence. The ride-hailing company’s previous 15-month licence – awarded by a court on appeal after TfL originally decided not to grant one - expires tonight (25 September). Two years ago, TfL declared that Uber was not ‘fit and proper’ to hold a licence – before the court intervened. At the time, Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi admitted the company was ‘far from perfect’. TfL now says it will be req
  • Report calls for per-mile road charging scheme in London
    April 30, 2019
    London’s mayor Sadiq Khan has been urged to replace the city’s existing road charge schemes with a single system that charges drivers per mile. Called City Move, the scheme would apply in areas of high demand and poor air quality. Rates would vary by vehicle emissions, local levels of congestion and pollution and availability of public transport alternatives – but would be set before the journey begins. A report by thinktank Centre for London - Green Light: Next Generation of Road User Charging for a Hea
  • UK man refuses to take down fake speed camera on A1 road
    October 3, 2018
    A 72-year-old man living beside a major UK road has refused to take down a replica speed camera. The BBC report says Mike Lacey built the fake camera for £40 using drainpipe and guttering to slow drivers passing his house next to the A1 in Beeston, Bedfordshire. Lacey says authorities have asked him to remove the structure as it was distracting for drivers. The village is divided by a dual-carriageway with a speed limit of 50mph.