Steve Williams, Head of the national Industrial and Logistics team at Lambert Smith Hampton, said: “Today’s announcement may be billed as ‘the most far-reaching roads programme for decades’, but it doesn’t seem particularly revolutionary from the perspective of the logistics industry.

“That said, a handful of projects have the potential to make a difference in specific regions, with investment in the M6, A34 and A1 being well overdue.

“Improvements to junction 30 of the M25 should support the continued expansion of the logistics sector around Thurrock, the Port of Tilbury and London Gateway.  This area has become a major logistics hub over the past few years, and it is vital that the surrounding road network continues to grow in step with development activity.

“Introducing four-lane running to the M25 between junctions 10 and 16 is a sensible idea, and we will watch with interest the results of the studies to improve links across the Pennines.”