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NIC releases the 2018 National Infrastructure Assessment, setting out a plan of action for the country’s infrastructure for the next 10-30 years.

The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) has released the first of its 5-yearly National Infrastructure Assessments. Looking across all infrastructure sectors, taking into account current and future demands, the NIC has delivered a series of conclusions to tackle key challenges. It is exciting to see the NIC call for a more ambitious, outcomes-driven government approach to the nation’s infrastructure.

Contextualised by a brutally honest review of major infrastructure project timelines, like the 23-years-in-the-making-Mersey-Gateway-Bridge, the NIC delivers the “long-term vision” that is needed for more efficient and successful delivery of long-term projects.

Revolutionising Road Transport

Innovation in road transport is highly disruptive, and is likely to significant changes to how, who and what are using the nation’s roads. The NIC is very clear on what it sees to be the Government’s role in driving the revolution of road transport. The Government should:

• encourage the switch to electric vehicles by making it a visibly accessible and reliable choice for car owners. According to the NIC, this should be done by subsidising installation of charging infrastructure where the private sector will not and developing policy that ensures that local authorities are prioritising these innovations by freeing up space to install chargers. Visibility and accessibility of charging points will be key to improving people’s trust in electric vehicles as a feasible mobility choice.
• ensure that the future of transport and mobility is considered in current infrastructure planning and project delivery, as timelines can extend over decades. This should be underpinned by a framework to assess potential impacts (despite the uncertainty) that will be produced before the next five-year planning cycle for road and rail.

Transport and Housing for Thriving City Regions

Urban transport needs to be an enabler of growth, but brings with it inherent challenges, such as increased numbers of drivers on roads, and changes to how space is utilised within urban environments. Local-level leadership needs to develop strategies that allow for cities to be planned more holistically – that is, integrating transport, employment and housing planning considerations. Further to this, additional funding support should be provided to cities that have great potential for growth but face severe capacity constraints. Further to this, the development of London should not be diminished by the growth and development of regional cities, but should be complement to bring nation-wide economic and social benefits. 

It is positive to see that the NIC has carved a role for itself here in working with the Government and cities to guide and oversee future upgrades to infrastructure across the country. This will provide ambition and continuity for city infrastructure projects, pulling together the various infrastructure sectors. 

We welcome the long-term, strategic approach that the National Infrastructure Assessment sets out for the nation’s infrastructure, and the ambition it calls for from the Government to deliver improved quality of life for the people in the UK. We look forward to working with our industry members and with the Government to achieve these goals for the nation's infrastructure.