Sir John Armitt, chairman of the UK’s National Infrastructure Commission (NIC), has stated that pay-per-mile road pricing is an “inevitable” solution for addressing the country’s future transport funding needs.
Speaking at an event at engineering firm Skanska’s national headquarters in Watford, Armitt emphasised the urgency of finding alternative revenue streams as the shift toward electric vehicles (EVs) accelerates and fuel duty revenues continue to decline.
With the UK government committed to phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035, there is growing concern about how the country will replace the £30bn currently raised annually through fuel duty and vehicle excise duty (VED).
According to Armitt, the adoption of EVs, while essential for reducing carbon emissions, presents a critical challenge to the long-term sustainability of transport infrastructure funding.
“We can’t continue to rely on fuel duty and VED as our primary sources of income for maintaining and improving the road network,” he said.
“As vehicles become more efficient and as the transition to electric vehicles gathers pace, we’re seeing a shrinking pot of funds from these traditional mechanisms.
“Pay-per-mile road pricing, while politically sensitive, is the most logical and fair way to ensure all road users contribute to the upkeep of the network.”
Armitt acknowledged that while the concept of road pricing has faced opposition in the past, public and political attitudes are likely to shift as the need for a new funding model becomes more pressing.
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He pointed to examples from other countries where road user charging schemes are currently in place, highlighting their potential to reduce congestion and pollution, while generating necessary funds for infrastructure improvements.
“Other nations have already begun to introduce road pricing models successfully, and we should be learning from them.
“It’s a fairer system because users pay in proportion to their usage, and it provides a direct incentive to reduce unnecessary journeys, which can help with congestion and emissions.
“It’s not a question of if, but when, we introduce it in the UK,” Armitt added.
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In its most recent reports, the NIC has called for a national debate on road pricing, urging policymakers to take a long-term view on the future of transport funding.
The commission argues that any new system must be designed with fairness in mind, ensuring that it does not disproportionately affect low-income drivers or those in rural areas who may be more reliant on personal vehicles.
However, Armitt was clear that implementing such a scheme would require careful planning, including the need to ensure privacy and data protection for drivers. Public trust, he stressed, would be crucial to the success of any road pricing initiative.
The idea of road pricing has received renewed attention in recent months, particularly as the transition to EVs accelerates and concerns about the environmental and financial sustainability of the UK’s road network intensify.
While no specific timeline has been set, Armitt’s comments suggest that pay-per-mile road pricing could soon move from theoretical discussion to practical policy.
However, new research from The Green Insurer has revealed that public sentiment may pose a significant hurdle for the introduction of road pricing.
A survey conducted in late August found that more than three in five Britons (61%) are opposed to pay-per-mile charging schemes on any UK roads.
Just one in eight (13%) would support the implementation of such pricing models on all roads, down from 17% earlier in the year.
The research highlights strong resistance among the public, with opposition largely driven by concerns over financial impacts.
The survey also noted that women are slightly less supportive of road pricing than men, with only 11% of women in favour compared to 15% of men.
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Paul Baxter, CEO of The Green Insurer, said: “Our most recent survey reveals that opposition to such pricing models remains strong.
“While we applaud any attempts to encourage more eco-friendly practices, it’s evident that the British public still need reassurance about how pay-per-mile schemes will affect their pockets and greater clarity on the long-term environmental benefits.”
The Green Insurer has called for the government to consider additional measures to incentivise eco-friendly driving, including financial incentives such as tax rebates or reduced insurance premiums for EV drivers, alongside improvements to the nation’s charging infrastructure.
You can learn more about the key trends and challenges affecting senior decision-makers who have responsibility for user-financed transportation – including tolling, pricing and road-usage charging – across the world at Akabo Media’s global series of Road User Charging Conferences in Brussels (March 2025), Miami (April 2025), Abu Dhabi (June 2025) and Singapore (October 2025). Click here for more information!