It was prepared in anticipation of the end of World War II and the reconstruction after bomb damage and large movements of population.

In 1937, the Ministry of Transport published The Highway Development Survey by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Charles Bressey, which reviewed London's road needs and recommended the construction of many miles of new roads and the improvement of junctions at key congestion areas.

The report recommended electrification of all rail routes and removal of elevated viaducts, with the elimination of railway bridges crossing the Thames being a key priority.

The proposals included a highly ambitious system of two-track bored rail tunnels in loop-shaped routes beneath built-up areas, large enough to handle mainline trains.

The 1946 report recommended a dozen new routes totalling over 100 miles, estimated to cost £230m and take at least 30 years to build.