A £25 billion plan to expand motorways and A-roads over the next five years has been shelved

A multi-billion road building plan – including proposals to roll out controversial smart motorways – has been put on hold over climate change concerns, The Times has learnt.

The £25 billion strategy to expand motorways and major A-roads over the next five years, has been shelved until later in the spring or even early summer.

The move is made after the Court of Appeal quashed government policy over the expansion of Heathrow on the grounds that it failed to take account of the UK’s climate change commitments.

Environmental groups said that the judgment would have a major bearing on all infrastructure projects including the upgrade of other airports and major road building schemes.

It was widely assumed that the new “road investment strategy” would be