Shropshire Council commits to increased carbon offset programme for North West Relief Road

Dan Morris, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways, said:

“Shropshire Council is committing to an increased carbon offset programme as part of plans to deliver the North West Relief Road (NWRR) and the significant benefits this will bring while mitigating the scheme’s environmental impact.

“As required by planning policy, we undertook a previous carbon assessment, using best practice when submitting our planning application in Autumn 2023. This identified measure to offset the carbon from the scheme construction and use.

“After the council’s Northern Planning Committee resolved to grant the NWRR planning permission in October 2023, subject to agreement of section 106 and satisfactory discharge of conditions, the Department for Transport (DfT) in early 2024 changed the carbon assessment process for the preparation of all major transport schemes, whether delivered by National Highways or councils. The DfT has stated this is primarily for use in Full Business Case assessments and not for planning purposes.

“However, to ensure complete transparency, the scheme has also now been assessed using this new process ready for our Full Business Case, which we will submit to the DfT for approval following a decision by Full Council.

“The new methodology uses different measures to assess carbon impact and arrives at a significantly higher figure for carbon emissions produced.

“To mitigate this, we are committing to the equivalent increase in carbon offsetting, based on a “local approach first” as set out in planning conditions, to ensure that we also fully comply with this latest, more stringent assessment process.

“The updated DfT assessment process applies to all transport schemes. As it is more stringent, all similar schemes will see an equivalent increase in carbon emissions and offsetting requirements. Key to our commitment to match the new offsetting requirements and balance the carbon emissions produced is the clear evidence of the many benefits the NWRR for people across Shropshire.

“Completing this missing link, the NWRR will reduce average journey times around Shrewsbury by 17 minutes. It will deliver major reductions in traffic, congestion and air pollution in Shrewsbury and many surrounding villages, boost public transport, cycling and walking, and attract new jobs and investment into the county.

“Put simply, doing nothing is not an option. Equally, there is no other realistic alternative that costs less, produces less carbon, and still delivers the benefits that the NWRR will see.”