The transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin has officially opened the Guildford headquarters of Highways England, the new organisation that will replace the Highways Agency as the body in charge of England’s road network from April 1st.

The move is part of package of road reforms that are expected to save £2.6 billion over the next ten years. Highways England will be responsible for delivering a £15 billion programme of road upgrades before 2021, which was agreed earlier this year.

About 330 people have been relocated from the Dorking location of the Highways Agency to a new building in Guildford, which is better connected to the strategic road network. The Dorking building has now been sold.
Mr McLoughlin said: “The creation of Highways England will mean better value for money, improved customer satisfaction, more road capacity, improved safety and a better quality of service for millions of people who use the strategic road network every day.”