The Rees Jeffreys Road Fund has whittled down 142 applications for its £150,000 roads of the future grant to a shortlist of 20.

This major UK-wide Competition is offering money for solutions that best respond to the question: “What’s your vision of the way in which our roads (motorways, highways, or streets and footways) could best work for us all as we square up to the challenges of the next 50 years?​”

The 20 shortlisted are Bikeworks CIC, Derek Cousins, Eloy, EPIKs, Gemma Bridge, Grid Smarter Cities, Hertfordshire County Council, JennyClark, KL Systems, Loughborough University, National Highways, OIS Inventions, Phil Carey Consultancy, Playing Out, Possible, Rachel Jupp, Reed Mobility, RoSPA, Tom Parry and TechEng.

The key requirement of the Competition was for innovative ideas, creatively presented, and the Trustees noted how well many entrants responded, sending in entries that included songs, poems, videos, paintings and models.

‘It was refreshing to hear from some new voices to the sector and be presented with some very well-thought out ideas,’ said Ginny Clarke, Trustee and Chair of the Judging Panel.

‘We were very pleased to see that many entries showed a “strong alignment” to the views of William Rees Jeffreys.’

‘I am delighted with the breadth of ideas, the quality of thinking and creativity, and especially pleased to get 142 entries,’ added fellow Trustee Andy Graham, who had the initial idea for the competition.

The winners will be announced on Wednesday 3 December.

See more details about the shortlisted entries here.

(Picture – Rees Jeffreys Road Fund)