Roads strategy chief Andrews joins DfT exodus

The DfT’s Head of Future Roads Strategy and Investment, Philip Andrews, is leaving the department and the civil service. He has been one of the key figures in roads policy over the last decade, and joins a number of senior DfT officials who are departing.

Andrews revealed on social media that he is in his “last month” at the Department. He is not retiring from work, and is believed to have taken up the opportunity for voluntary redundancy as part of the DfT's quest for savings from a slimmed down operation. Andrews has suggested he is looking for “a reset… a life sabbatical… seeking new challenges”.

Also understood to be departing this month is Anthony Ferguson, Deputy Director for Traffic and Technology at DfT, among others taking the voluntary redundancy option. Shortly leaving too is Permanent Secretary Dame Bernadette Kelly (LTT911).

Andrews spent over nine years in his role at DfT, responsible for major aspects of road policy and funding. His role involved the development of strategy, finance, performance frameworks, business cases and scheme portfolios for multi-billion roads programmes including the five year RIS2 and the upcoming RIS3. He also managed relationships with National Highways and with the major road network local authority programme and road elements of cross-government strategies.

He was DfT lead for major private sector roads inward investment projects; the operation and contract for Dartford Crossing tolls; removal of Severn tolls and the road elements of Oxford to Cambridge transport-led development Arc and Heathrow expansions. 

In a social media message, Andrews said: “I believe I added value or, in some cases, limited the wider damage. I have worked with some amazing, dedicated people across the public sector and in the enlightened end of the private sector. 

“Though the civil service can get some deserved criticisms, we should all continue to be grateful for the highly committed people who just get the stuff of government done, whether you agree or not with the direction they are pointed in by politicians or the often ridiculous constraints and processes they face.

“I’m lucky enough to not have to rush into anything, but I’m looking to be...useful. Preferably somewhere that would benefit from someone who has seen how the Government sausage machine works but also knows how to make progress on actual delivery.”