Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of Highways England's plans to use emergency powers to infill or demolish unused bridges without (1) seeking planning permission, or (2) providing information about an urgent need to take action.

Highways England has no plans to use emergency powers on Historical Railways Estate structures, which it maintains on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, across England, Scotland and Wales. To maintain the safety of both the communities living close to them and the drivers who use the roads that cross them, Highways England is planning to infill 115 bridges and remove 15 structures over the next five years. Most of the bridges earmarked for infilling are over 100 years old and were never designed to carry the weight of modern traffic.

Highways England’s planned infilling is the safest and most appropriate option and will maintain access across the structures, and its works are in accordance with The Town & Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, to keep the public safe. Highways England has contacted all local authorities affected to advise them of its plans. In addition, it has arranged for seven structures to be transferred to local authorities which aspire to use them for cycle routes.