A new national policy statement (NPS) from the Department for Transport (DfT) hopes to encourage freight transport, although the High Speed Two project is exempt from the document’s guidelines.

The statement agrees that there is a clear need for improved facilities for transporting freight by rail and road, including better integration and more connecting hubs.

However, the restrictions around building or widening roads, new housing developments and other infrastructure projects in national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty have been reinforced.

Despite this, the NPS suggests that tackling overcrowding on UK transport networks is an important factor when it comes to stimulating economic growth at both a local and national level.

The NPS was drawn up following a public consultation that concluded in December 2013.

The government response to the consultation also clarified how decisions should be made regarding the need for new developments. It said: "We agree that national demand forecasts, while a useful indicator of future demand and national need at an aggregate level, should not be the sole basis for decisions to justify need for specific schemes."