Multi-disciplinary professional services consultancy WSP has been appointed to National Highway’s Water Quality Plan, which commits to addressing the 1,200 highest-risk outfalls by 2030.
The project aims to improve knowledge around water run-off from the strategic road network and mitigate the environmental impact of high-risk outfalls as part of National Highway’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy.
WSP has been awarded the role of technical partner on the programme, supported by Mott Macdonald, Ramboll, and AECOM. Working alongside their partners, WSP will provide strong programme management and delivery arrangements to March 2025, with scope to continue to 2030. The role will include project and programme management, technical assurance, preliminary design and a programme of work across the third roads investment period (RIS3) as part of a long-term water quality strategy. National Highways is investing £10m this year in establishing the programme, with the technical partner role valued at £4m.
Most rainfall from the strategic road network flows into rivers, streams, or soakaways. Currently, the network includes approximately 18,000 outfalls and 8,000 soakaways. Discharges from roads can carry pollutants that may impact the environment under certain conditions.
The Water Quality Plan aims to address the 1,200 highest-risk outfalls by 2030 and WSP will validate and verify these high-risk assets and develop preliminary design solutions to mitigate associated risks.
David Symons, Technical Partner Programme Director and UK Director of Sustainability at WSP, said:
“We are delighted to have been appointed as Technical Partner, supporting National Highways to improve water quality across its network. Our project and programme management capability, relationships and expert knowledge will help us to deliver this vital work to ensure our water and our environment is protected.”
Stephen Elderkin, Director of Environmental Sustainability at National Highways said:
“We are committed to addressing the risk of pollution from road run-off. Bringing external expertise into this area will helps us to deliver our Water Quality Plan 2030.
“We have worked with WSP previously in developing environmental strategies and we look forward to working with them again as we continue to demonstrate that high quality road infrastructure can support positive environmental outcomes.”
The National Highways 2030 Water Quality Plan is available as a pdf here
