Place infrastructure at the heart of economic policy
Investment in infrastructure has immediate economic benefits and long-term advantages. But the UK needs a strategic approach from the next government to deliver the infrastructure we need to thrive, according to Andrew Crudgington, ICE Director of External Affairs and Strategy.
The UK’s population is growing, our climate has become increasingly unpredictable and technology is opening up new opportunities for how we can design, operate and use infrastructure. In order to keep pace our next government will need to take a long-term strategic approach to planning and delivering the infrastructure we need to thrive.
Public finances will remain tight for the foreseeable future and government will have no choice but to prioritise. We must not forget however that more than half of the investment set out in the National Infrastructure Delivery Plan will be in privately owned assets, including the vital energy and digital sectors. We are already seeing some worrying indications of investment plans being deferred, perhaps the first sign of a Brexit effect. Further uncertainty would be, to say the least, unhelpful.
So, against this backdrop a long term strategy isn’t a nice to have. It is vital. We need, dare I say it, a strong and stable commitment to the right combination of new infrastructure, enhancements and deployment of technology to get much, much more from our existing networks.
Without all this we simply won’t be able to secure the world class infrastructure that all parties say they want – at a price the public can afford to pay through their taxes and utility bills.
That is why we have called on all parties to commit to the work of the National Infrastructure Commission and place the development of our infrastructure at the heart of their economic policies.
Led by Lord Adonis and ICE Past President Sir John Armitt, the National Infrastructure Commission provides impartial, expert advice on long-term challenges. Next year it will publish the first National Infrastructure Assessment – drawing on ICE’s 2016 National Needs Assessment. This assessment will provide the government with analytical backbone and clear, long-term direction.
The improvements to our transport, energy, water, and housing networks that will follow are the foundations upon which our future prosperity and quality of life will be built. If we get this wrong, all the efforts being put into creating an industrial strategy and boosting Britain’s flagging productivity will be undermined.
In short, as our National Needs Assessment demonstrated that short-term, knee-jerk decision making and stop-start pattern of investment will cause harm lasting decades.
But the benefits are not only for future generations. If we get it right, we’ll provide a boost for the construction and infrastructure industries - a huge part of the economy and on some measures significantly bigger, if less glamorous than financial services.
Some numbers bear this out. In 2014, the construction industry contributed £103bn in economic output, 6.5% of the UK total. Every 1,000 direct jobs created by the delivery of new infrastructure boost wider employment by more than 3,000 jobs. For every £1 of infrastructure investment the country sees £2.84 worth of economic activity.
So investment in infrastructure has immediate economic benefits and long-term advantages.
That is why we are asking for parties to place infrastructure at the heart of economic policy and that is why we stand ready to help inform that process when they do.
This article was originally published here on 16 May 2017 by ICE. It was written by Andrew Crudgington, ICE Director of External Affairs and Strategy.
--The Institution of Civil Engineers
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Articles by ICE on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- Brexit - The case for infrastructure.
- Conservative conference - industrial strategy.
- Demystifying the strategic infrastructure planning process.
- National Infrastructure Commission NIC.
- National Infrastructure Plan.
- National Needs Assessment NNA.
- Overcoming the challenges of Brexit.
- Safeguarding infrastructure post-Brexit.
Featured articles and news
CIOB photographic competition final images revealed
Art of Building produces stunning images for another year.
Major overhaul of planning committees proposed by government
Planning decisions set to be fast-tracked to tackle the housing crisis.
Strategic restructure to transform industry competence
EBSSA becomes part of a new industry competence structure.
Industry Competence Steering Group restructure
ICSG transitions to the Industry Competence Committee (ICC) under the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).
Principal Contractor Competency Certification Scheme
CIOB PCCCS competence framework for Principal Contractors.
The CIAT Principal Designer register
Issues explained via a series of FAQs.
Conservation in the age of the fourth (digital) industrial revolution.
Shaping the future of heritage
Embracing the evolution of economic thinking.
Ministers to unleash biggest building boom in half a century
50 major infrastructure projects, 5 billion for housing and 1.5 million homes.
RIBA Principal Designer Practice Note published
With key descriptions, best practice examples and FAQs, with supporting template resources.
Electrical businesses brace for project delays in 2025
BEB survey reveals over half worried about impact of delays.
Accelerating the remediation of buildings with unsafe cladding in England
The government publishes its Remediation Acceleration Plan.
Airtightness in raised access plenum floors
New testing guidance from BSRIA out now.
Picking up the hard hat on site or not
Common factors preventing workers using head protection and how to solve them.
Building trust with customers through endorsed trades
Commitment to quality demonstrated through government endorsed scheme.
New guidance for preparing structural submissions for Gateways 2 and 3
Published by the The Institution of Structural Engineers.
CIOB launches global mental health survey
To address the silent mental health crisis in construction.
Key takeaways from the BSRIA Briefing 2024
Not just waiting for Net Zero, but driving it.