Highways England will change its name to National Highways, as the operator of England’s motorways and major A roads appoints Nick Harris as its new chief executive.

Highways England is to encourage contractors to switch to lower-carbon warm mix asphalts (WMAs) more quickly, in a drive to save 61,000 tonnes of carbon a year.

Highways England has set out its aim to deliver net zero road maintenance and construction by 2040, as it targets net zero carbon travel on its roads by 2050.