As the sector considers the uncertainties created by a wild night in politics, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) has called for any new government to provide certainty in infrastructure.
Sue Percy, chief executive of the CIHT said: 'Certainty of funding and investment is fundamental, so the on-going development of industrial and housing strategies remains key. Any future investment must include the whole-life maintenance of this transport infrastructure.
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'Brexit will provide the UK with the opportunity to use transportation infrastructure investment to ensure that we have the economy and resources to improve our productivity and competitiveness in global markets.'
CIHT has called for a number of key actions:
1. Transport recognised as a fundamental part of the creation of better places to live and work.
This includes investing in sustainable transport and creating accessible and inclusive environments.
2. The introduction of a UK National Transport Strategy.
A UK Transport Strategy would provide the basis for an effective and coordinated programme of infrastructure investment that enables economic growth and gives business confidence to invest in the UK.
3. The adoption of infrastructure delivery plans at the sub-national level
Planning must address the delivery of transport infrastructure to meet the needs for development in the right place at the right time. To achieve this, the UK needs to change the way we deliver and integrate new developments with the required supporting transport infrastructure.
4. Certainty of funding for all transport infrastructure
The UK must look for opportunities to enable growth across the whole country and investment in connectivity, both physically and digitally, at a sub-national level is essential.
5. Government to introduce a total expenditure approach to transport infrastructure investment
The whole life cost of transport infrastructure including on-going maintenance, needs to be resourced appropriately. To help address shortfalls in maintenance spending, which tends to operate on annualised budgets, we recommend that all sectors should adopt a total expenditure (TOTEX) method.
6. Government to invest in skills development and the sector to become more representative of the society it serves
Brexit will provide additional challenges for the industry and the UK must make sure that negotiations allow for flexibility in the labour market and continued access to the right skills.
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