HC Deb 06 February 1990 vol 166 cc563-4W
Dr. Kim Howells

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest estimate of land sterilised for other uses by the construction of(a) new two-lane highways, (b) new four-lane highways and (c) new six-lane highways measured in terms of land sterilised per 1,000 m of new road construction.

Mr. Atkins

The amount of land taken for road scheme varies according to topography, structures and the amount of landscape treatment. In terms of standard carriageway widths, the land take is as follows:

Standard Width Area per 1000 metres
metres (in hectares)
Motorway
Dual 4 lane =50 5.0
Dual 3 lane =43 4.3
Dual 2 lane =35 3.5
All-purpose
Dual 2 lane1 =38 3.8

Standard Width Area per 1000 metres
metres (in hectares)
Wide single =26 2.6
Single =23 2.3
1 Includes allowance for footpaths.

When the expanded roads programme is complete, the trunk road network in England will cover an area of 3,836ha, 0.29 per cent. of the total land area.