The Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) has published a new guide aimed at supporting consultancies that deliver roads. 

The document has been launched by the organisation, which represents companies large and small that design, deliver and manage the built environment and national infrastructure.

It explores how businesses can turn challenge into opportunity as the UK continues its journey towards net zero by 2050.

Outlining a role for consultancies in supporting clients to decarbonise the design, construction and maintenance of roads, it also highlights the important role of re-thinking how transport systems are planned and operated to deliver improvements for mobility within increasingly tight emission budgets.

Highway engineers – and similar – will need a broader package of sustainability skills to allow them to deliver roads, including expertise to assess the impact of design choices on new environmental, social and economic criteria for success.

Consultancy businesses will also have to grow their capabilities in a number of areas including placemaking, intelligent mobility and road user charging schemes.

Featuring detailed case studies on the different approaches from ACE members Arup and Ramboll, as well as overviews of the policy situations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the guide has been designed as a one-stop shop for any business working in road management, design or delivery across Great Britain.

Arup’s Tim Chapman, who is also chair of ACE’s transport group, said: “With expertise across transport planning/strategy, project appraisal, engineering design, placemaking, highway adaption for zero emission vehicles, for walking and cycling, and carbon management and measurement, our industry is uniquely placed to deliver roads and streets that will also positively contribute to our net zero goals.”

ACE’s head of policy, Guto Davies, added: “No other sector has the mix of engineering, strategic thinking, project delivery and advisory skills that ACE members can bring to our transition to net zero highways – we hope that this guide is a great starting point for more members to embrace this opportunity.”

The guide is available now for members to download from the ACE website – www.acenet.co.uk