WSP is to advise National Highways for the next two years on the delivery of the ambitious commitments within its net zero plan.

Launched in July 2021, National Highways’ Net Zero Highways plan claims to be one of the most ambitious strategies in the UK infrastructure sector and WSP, alongside its consortia which includes Mott MacDonald and Ramboll, developed it in close collaboration with National Highways.

WSP will now provide technical and management support to National Highways until 2024, supporting the delivery of net zero commitments made around direct operations (by 2030), net zero maintenance and construction (by 2040) and zero emission road travel (by 2050). This commission followed a competitive tendering exercise by National Highways.

National Highways’ Net Zero Plan, launched in July 2021, is an ambitious programme that cuts carbon in line with the global, Science Based Target Initiative’s trajectory to keep climate change at or below 1.5oC. It also supports the Department for Transport’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan.

David Symons, UK director of sustainability at WSP and project director, said: “We’re proud to have been reappointed to lead the work with National Highways to implement their world class net zero plan. The next few years are critical to get the UK on track for net zero and National Highways has a key role in leading the innovation needed to decarbonise UK construction and transport.”

Stephen Elderkin, director of environmental sustainability for National Highways, said: “Last July we set out our ambitious plan to achieve net zero for corporate, construction and user emissions. The focus is now on implementing it. I look forward to working with WSP to deliver against our commitments and take a big step forward to a sustainable transport system and make a major contribution to delivering the UK’s climate targets.”

In October 2020, WSP announced a commitment to halve the carbon footprint of all designs and advice provided to clients by 2030, a first in the engineering consultancy sector.