PLANNING COMMENT FOR APPLICATION REF:  5/2025/0071

Nigel Walkden

Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford GU1 4LZ

National Highways

Support the Proposal

National Highways Planning Response (NHPR 25-01)
Formal Recommendation to an Application for Planning Permission

From: 		Michelle Berrington (Head of Planning & Development)
Operations Directorate
South East Region
National Highways
PlanningSE@nationalhighways.co.uk
		
To: 	           St Albans City and District Council (FAO Laura Saxton)
		(Via website portal)

CC:		transportplanning@dft.gov.uk
	spatialplanning@nationalhighways.co.uk 

Council's Reference: 5/2025/0071

Location: Unit C2/C3 The Albert Bygrave Retail Park North Orbital Road St Albans Hertfordshire Al2 1Dl 

Proposal: New window and door frame wrapping and oak effect cladding

National Highways Ref: NH/25/10629

Referring to the consultation on a planning application dated 31st March 2025 referenced above, in the vicinity of the A414 to the west of the that forms part of the Strategic Road Network, notice is hereby given that National Highways’ formal recommendation is that we:

offer no objection (see reasons at Annex A);

Highways Act 1980 Section 175B is not relevant to this application.  

This represents National Highways’ formal recommendation and is copied to the Department for Transport as per the terms of our Licence.

Should the Local Planning Authority propose not to determine the application in accordance with this recommendation they are required to consult the Secretary of State for Transport, as set out in the Town and Country Planning (Development Affecting Trunk Roads) Direction 2018, via transportplanning@dft.gov.uk and may not determine the application until the consultation process is complete.

The Local Planning Authority must also copy any consultation under the 2018 Direction to PlanningSE@nationalhighways.co.uk.

This response and all comments outlined herein are made in respect of planning matters only in National Highways’ position as a statutory planning consultee, and does not confer any proprietary rights nor amount to the giving or refusal of consent, assent, approval, or awareness of or by National Highways in or of any other aspects or matters (including, but not limited to, the use of property belonging to National Highways). If anyone wishes for National Highways to consider any aspects which do not relate to planning submissions, they should call our contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Signature:  Nigel Walkden

Date: 10 April 2025  

Name: Nigel Walkden	
Position: Assistant Spatial Planner

National Highways: Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford GU1 4LZ

Annex A	National Highways’ assessment of the proposed development

National Highways was appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport as a strategic highway company under the provisions of the Infrastructure Act 2015 and is the highway authority, traffic authority and street authority for the Strategic Road Network (SRN). The SRN is a critical national asset and as such we work to ensure that it operates and is managed in the public interest, both in respect of current activities and needs as well as in providing effective stewardship of its long-term operation and integrity.

National Highways are interested as to whether there would be any adverse safety implications or material increase in queues and delays on the SRN as a result of the proposed application, in this case on the A414 west of the Park Street Roundabout to the M1.

Offer No Objection – Reasons
Having examined the proposals we are content that development will not detrimentally impact upon the A414 above being some distance away.
We are therefore satisfied that the development will not materially affect the safety, reliability and/or operation of the strategic road network (the tests set out in DfT Circular 01/2022, and MHCLG NPPF 2023 paragraphs 111-114) in this location and its vicinity.

Standing advice to the local planning authority

The Climate Change Committee’s 2022 Report to Parliament notes that for the UK to achieve net zero carbon status by 2050, action is needed to support a modal shift away from car travel. The NPPF supports this position, with paragraphs 77 and 110 prescribing that significant development should offer a genuine choice of transport modes, while paragraphs 109 and 115 advise that appropriate opportunities to promote walking, cycling and public transport should be taken up as part of a vision-led approach. 

Moreover, the carbon reduction hierarchy (avoid-switch-improve) as set out in clause 4.3 of PAS2080:2023 promotes approaches and measures to minimise resource consumption and thereby reduce carbon emissions.

These considerations should be weighed alongside any relevant Local Plan policies to ensure that planning decisions are in line with the necessary transition to net zero carbon.