Transforming the Highways Agency into a government-owned company

Proposals for setting up the Highways Agency as a new government-owned company responsible for operating, managing and improving the strategic road network.

The main aims of the changes are to:

• give the road operator the freedom to manage the day-to-day operation of the roads without unnecessary interference from central government, while remaining fully accountable for the state of the network
• provide greater certainty and flexibility of funding, and stability over delivery requirements, to allow the operator and the supply chain to plan ahead and deliver more efficiently
• improve accountability and transparency for road users and the wider public about what the road operator is delivering and how it is performing

Areas covered include proposals around:

• structure of the new company
• governance and accountability
• external scrutiny and challenge
• transfer of powers and duties

The outcome of this consultation will inform the final form of the new company and shape the legislation needed to empower the company to run the strategic road network, which we plan to bring forward in 2014.