The Highways Agency’s Approach to Annual Asbestos Action Plans in the UK

Managing legacy infrastructure in a safe, sustainable manner is a top priority for the UK’s Highways Agency (HA). Among the risks that remain embedded within the country’s aging road infrastructure is the presence of Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs). Recognizing this challenge, the UK government developed a robust system of annual asbestos action planning to mitigate these risks systematically across the Strategic Road Network (SRN).

This blog outlines how the UK’s Highways Agency approaches its Annual Asbestos Action Plans (AAPs) under the General Asbestos Management Plan (GAMP), and how this structured process ensures safety, compliance, and long-term efficiency.

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Understanding the GAMP and its Strategic Objectives

The General Asbestos Management Plan (GAMP) is a comprehensive document that outlines how the Highways Agency and its service providers should manage the risk of asbestos across the SRN. It aligns with the UK’s Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2006, particularly Regulation 4, which mandates the duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic premises.

Key goals of GAMP include:

• Ensuring systematic inspection and management of all highway assets potentially containing asbestos.
• Providing consistent methodologies for creating Asbestos Action Plans (AAPs) and Area Asbestos Management Plans (AAMPs).
• Delivering full asset coverage by March 2025, through a minimum of 5% network coverage annually by service providers.

Key Components of the UK’s Asbestos Action Planning

1. Structured Annual Targets

Each year, Highways Agency Service Providers are tasked with preparing AAPs that cover at least 5% of their network responsibility. This is part of a 20-year rolling programme that began in 2005. The 5% rule ensures manageable progress while maintaining focus on priority areas.

2. Asset Coverage Scope

AAPs are required for all asset types older than the year 2000, including:

• Road surfaces and signage
• Electrical and drainage systems
• Bridges, culverts, and tunnels
• Control buildings and depots
• Ventilation systems and communication structures

Assets constructed after 2000 are generally excluded since the UK banned asbestos use in 1999.

Integration of Management Plans: AAMP, SAMP, and TNAMP

- Area Asbestos Management Plans (AAMPs)

Prepared annually by Area Performance Managers and service providers, AAMPs identify priorities, planned works, and resource requirements for asbestos control in designated regions.

- Scheme Asbestos Management Plans (SAMPs)

Specific to major infrastructure projects, SAMPs must be produced at the Preferred Route Announcement stage and updated through construction and completion phases.

- Technology National Asbestos Management Plan (TNAMP)

TNAMP guides asbestos management in electrical, telecom, and technology assets, ensuring these critical components receive focused attention.

Prioritizing Survey Areas

Surveys are prioritised based on:

• Age of infrastructure: Older roads and tunnels are more likely to contain ACMs.
• Planned improvement works: Projects requiring excavation, refurbishing, or demolition take precedence.
• Suspected contamination: Areas with historical asbestos use or previous incidents.

Where ACMs are confirmed or presumed, management or removal steps must be outlined in the AAP and uploaded to the Highways Agency’s databases such as SMIS, HAPMS, or TPMS.

Control Measures and Inter-Agency Cooperation

The GAMP enforces a system of inter-agency cooperation. Providers are required to:

• Share data with all relevant stakeholders including police, utility companies, and emergency services.
• Review historical maintenance records.
• Notify and collaborate with third-party asset owners or contractors working near HA assets.

This cooperation ensures compliance with CAR 2006 and prevents accidental asbestos exposure during routine or emergency works.

Annual Review, Auditing, and Reporting

The Highways Agency Asbestos Management Team (HAAMT) leads the monitoring and annual review process, focusing on:

• Compliance with AAP submission timelines.
• Safe work practices.
• Adequate training among service provider personnel.

Monthly reporting templates track progress against the yearly 5% target, while audits identify gaps or areas for improvement.

Training and Competency

To ensure effective implementation, the HA requires:

• Each service provider to nominate trained AAP Owners.
• All field staff to undergo asbestos awareness and safety training.
• Ongoing internal training logs to be maintained and shared upon request.

Training must comply with Regulation 10 of CAR 2006, and the HAAMT offers support materials for knowledge enhancement.

Conclusion

The UK Highways Agency’s meticulous approach to Annual Asbestos Action Plans represents a best-practice model for managing hazardous materials in aging infrastructure. Through clear regulatory alignment, prioritised survey targets, coordinated responsibilities, and technology integration, the GAMP and its associated plans ensure that the entire strategic road network will be assessed and managed for asbestos risks by 2025.

This proactive, year-on-year strategy not only safeguards workers and the public but also reduces long-term liability and maintenance costs.

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FAQs

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Q1. What is the purpose of Annual Asbestos Action Plans in the UK?

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AAPs help manage asbestos risks in the UK Strategic Road Network, ensuring compliance with CAR 2006 and safe infrastructure maintenance.

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Q2. Who manages asbestos on UK highways?

Highways Agency Service Providers create and implement AAPs under GAMP, aiming for full asbestos coverage by 2025.

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Q3. How does the UK ensure asbestos compliance on roads?

The Highways Agency uses audits, training, and data systems like HAPMS to meet asbestos regulations under GAMP.

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