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Transport: Innovation

Asked by Mr Richard HoldenConservativeDepartment for TransportTabled Answered 4 June 2026UIN 5446

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 May 2026 to Question 2801 on Transport: Innovation, how many projects have had their business case approvals process adapted to support innovative activity since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Simon Lightwood

Departmental guidance allows for a proportionate and flexible approach to approvals, with innovative activity being one of a number of reasons such flexibilities are relevant in any given case. The recently published National Audit Office report Innovation in Transport systematically looked at the department's approach to innovation and included an example of this proportionate and flexible approach when the department reviewed the business case for trialling a new approach to light rail infrastructure in Coventry.

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