Howe told the podcast that money that would have been used to complete the £1.6bn stretch of motorway had since helped fund a “range” of other public transport interventions, including the South Wales Metro which was nearing completion.
Rail passengers increased by 19.1% for 2024-25, while the latest Transport for Wales figures showed a further 9.9% increase for 2025-26.
Howe also said she looked into every “pre-approved” road building scheme and asked the government to apply the same wellbeing tests to them, which had led to most being cancelled.
In 2023 the Welsh government scrapped all major road-building projects – including a planned third Menai bridge and a “red route” in Flintshire – after assessing 59 schemes, with only 15 smaller-scale projects given the green light. , external
The government said at the time it would not consider new projects unless they reduced carbon emissions, supported a shift to public transport, walking or cycling, and helped it adapt to the effects of climate change.
Since then, in 2025 the Flintshire road was revived in a proposed transport plan, and this year the new Plaid government was said to be reviewing options to build the third Menai bridge.
Howe said that since the creation of her former role, the United Nations had passed a declaration on future generations, Gibraltar had created a similar commissioner, and legislation and campaigns focusing on intergenerational fairness had been launched in other countries.
Bills to ensure governments account for the interests of future generations are in development in UK and Irish parliaments, but a proposal for a future generations commissioner was voted down in the Scottish Parliament in January.
A Welsh government spokesperson said: “A focused review of options which could improve conditions on the M4 around Newport is progressing.
“The deputy minister for transport will update the Senedd on the work next week.”
