Government ‘must invest in long-term infrastructure plan’

Tackling the Infrastructure Puzzle, published by the Business Infrastructure Commission, sets out a number of recommendations for improving the UK’s transport, energy supply and digital communication networks.

The UK is claimed to suffer from some of the most congested infrastructure in the developed world, yet improvements could increase GDP by an additional 0.7 per cent.

According to Prof David Begg, chairman of the Business Infrastructure Commission, savings of between £2bn and £3bn could be realised through more efficient procurement alone.

The report urges the government to rise to the challenge and focus on the five pieces of the so-called infrastructure puzzle, which include a detailed long-term infrastructure strategy, procurement reform and improvements to the planning system for major projects.

These must go hand in hand with attracting private finance and ensuring that the UK has the right skills to deliver national and regional infrastructure projects.

Commenting on the report, Tom Foulkes, director-general of the Institution of Civil Engineers, said: ‘The government has rightly recognised infrastructure as a central plank in its strategy for growth, and there have been significant steps towards achieving this — from the creation of Infrastructure UK within the Treasury to the launch of the UK’s first National Infrastructure Plan.