The scheme would be delivered by National Highways and would therefore not directly affect the Council’s Carbon Budget.

It is considered that the magnitude of emissions from the options will not materially impact the Government’s ability to meet carbon budgets, and therefore will not have a significant effect on climate or affect the UK’s ability to meet its emissions reduction targets. This is in line with the position set out in the National Networks National Policy Statement, which acknowledges that the emissions from the construction and operation of a road scheme are likely to be negligible compared to total UK emissions and are unlikely to materially affect the UK Government’s ability to meet its carbon reduction targets. The National Networks National Policy Statement specifically states that ‘it is very unlikely that the effect of a road project will, in isolation, affect the ability of Government to meet its carbon reduction plan targets’.