This landmark speech was given in March 2015 by the Rt Hon John Hayes MP, when he was roads minister, to CPRE and the Campaign for Better Transport. It outlines a noble vision of greater harmony between our road network and our priceless countryside. This publication includes a foreword by Sir Andrew Motion, CPRE President, and an introduction from Colin Matthews, Chairmain of Highways England. More information about the speech is available in our features section.

This report, produced by CPRE and the Campaign for Better Transport, sets out aspirations for roads retrofitting programme, to reduce environmental impacts. Measures could include improved conditions for cycling and walking, plus restoring tranquillity by tackling noise and visual intrusion.

Following CPRE's successful campaigning, local authorities are able to designate country lanes as 'Quiet Lanes' in rural areas, under the Transport Act 2000. This accessible and informative guide will explain what Quiet Lanes are, their benefits and, step-by-step, how to promote them in your area.

 Watch our animation summarising the report and download below:

This CPRE report reveals that road-building is failing to provide the congestion relief and economic boost promised, while devastating the environment. It directly challenges government claims that ‘the economic gains from road investment are beyond doubt’; that road-building will lead to ‘mile a minute’ journeys; and that the impact on the environment will be limited ‘as far as possible’. The report shows how road building over the past two decades has repeatedly failed to live up to similar aims.

The report is based on a study commissioned by CPRE and carried out by consultants Transport for Quality of Life (TfQL), which examined 86 official studies of completed road schemes. The TfQL research is available here.

CPRE commissioned consultants Transport for Quality of Life Community Interest Company (TfLQ) to examines the impacts of road schemes on traffic, the environment, the economy, road safety and land use.

This study draws upon evidence of short-term impacts (between one and five years after scheme completion) from over 80 road schemes, published by Highways England1 through its Post-Opening Project Evaluation (POPE) process. This is supplemented by long-term evidence from four road schemes that were completed between 13 and 20 years ago: the A34 Newbury Bypass, M65 Blackburn Southern Bypass, A46 Newark – Lincoln dualling and A120 Stansted to Braintree dualling.

CPRE's summary report, The End of the Road?, is available here.