Share these talks and lectures with your colleagues
Invite colleaguesPractice paper
How road investment can improve economic prosperity : The case for Northern England
Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal,
16
(2),
118-125
(2023)
Abstract
Good roads are critical to modern functioning society, providing flexible mobility options for people to access jobs and services via private car, by bus, or for local trips by foot or cycle. Likewise, almost all freight movements depend on good strategic and local road connections. Investment in transport, including roads, can deliver economic agglomeration and an increase in effective density, also direct user benefits, productivity gains, greater labour market participation and business investment. This paper posits that, to maximise the benefits of road investment, we need a holistic whole-systems approach to aligning policy and infrastructure investment focused on achieving sustainable economic prosperity, improved social inclusivity, environmental goals, and most critically, decarbonisation of transport and the wider economy.
Keywords: road investment; North of England; Transport for the North; economic prosperity; transport-related social exclusion; major road network
The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.
Author's Biography
Owen Wilson BSc MSc MCIHT leads the Transport for the North Major Roads Team and works with the Department for Transport, National Highways, and local Transport Authority to shape policy and investment priorities for the North of England’s major roads. He has worked for over 22 years managing the development and delivery of transport and economic strategies within the public and NGO sectors.
