Preparation is underway for the second Road Investment Strategy (RIS2) to cover the period 2020 to 2025. The work is in three phases; research, decision and mobilisation. The research phase is in progress. As well as six strategic studies looking at complex problems facing specific areas, including the M25 south west quadrant, a key source of information will be Highways England’s programme of 18 refreshed route strategies covering the entire network, including the M4. Work on these route strategies is reaching conclusion and we expect these to be published in March. We will then move on to assessing options for interventions at priority locations with a view to publishing RIS2 in 2019.

Potential works on the Strategic Road Network related specifically to airport expansion in the South East are also being considered following the announcement on 25 October 2016 and publication of the draft National Policy Statement on 2 February 2017. However, there are no plans for additional works on the M4 related to airport expansion.

The Department has no plans to widen the M4 because of the proposed expansion at Heathrow Airport. Our focus is on maximising the number of airport journeys made by public transport.

The draft Airports National Policy Statement published on 2 February proposes specific public transport mode share targets against which Heathrow Airport Limited would report on an annual basis.

Heathrow Airport Limited has pledged not to increase the number of vehicles on the road as a result of expansion.

Capacity on the strategic road network, including the M4, is considered through Highways England’s route strategies, which contribute to the development of our road investment strategy.

The Airports Commission in its Final Report and supporting documents published in July 2015, considered potential options for improving capacity on the M4 motorway between junctions 2 and 4 in relation the expansion of Heathrow airport.

As part of the Government’s consideration of the Airports Commission’s work and recommendations, Highways England assessed and validated the costs and deliverability of the Commission’s strategic road proposals, which were published in October 2016 alongside Government’s announcement of its preference for a new northwest runway at Heathrow airport.

The Department recognises that future improvements to the M4 may be needed for a number of reasons to address future transport demand, including wider population and economic growth, but not solely as a result of the proposed expansion of Heathrow airport.

The Department will be considering the need for potential future improvements for the strategic road network, including the M4, as part of its long term investment planning processes for development of future Road Investment programmes.

The Government will set out details about plans for a new runway at Heathrow airport in Parliament through a draft National Policy Statement shortly. It will be subject to a full and public consultation and parliamentary scrutiny.

The Airports Commission in its Final Report and supporting documents published in July 2015, considered potential options for improving capacity on the M4 motorway between junctions 2 and 4 in relation the expansion of Heathrow airport.

As part of the Government’s consideration of the Airports Commission’s work and recommendations, Highways England assessed and validated the costs and deliverability of the Commission’s strategic road proposals, which were published in October 2016 alongside Government’s announcement of its preference for a new northwest runway at Heathrow airport.

The Department recognises that future improvements to the M4 may be needed for a number of reasons to address future transport demand, including wider population and economic growth, but not solely as a result of the proposed expansion of Heathrow airport.

The Department will be considering the need for potential future improvements for the strategic road network, including the M4, as part of its long term investment planning processes for development of future Road Investment programmes.

The Government will set out details about plans for a new runway at Heathrow airport in Parliament through a draft National Policy Statement shortly. It will be subject to a full and public consultation and parliamentary scrutiny.