Transport infrastructure development received a boost this week from the Government’s £50bn new programme of legislative and financial support to kick-start Britain’s beleaguered economy, industry experts claimed.
However, leading engineering bodies have suggested greater ‘clarity and leadership on infrastructure’ is still needed, and concerns have been raised about possible appraisal processes.
Unveiled on 6 September, the Government’s Infrastructure (Financial Assistance) Bill will use the Government’s historically-low borrowing costs to provide financial guarantees for up to £40bn worth of major infrastructure projects.
The funding will focus on ‘nationally-significant’ projects which are ready to start construction within 12 months and offer ‘good value’ for taxpayers. A Treasury spokeswoman said these would include transport, utilities and communications infrastructure.
Chief executive of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT), Sue Percy, said: ‘While we welcome this announcement, there is a need for clear certainty and strong leadership on infrastructure-related policies and projects.
‘CIHT believes that a cross-party group should be established to develop and provide the certainty of a 20-year strategy for transport infrastructure across the UK.’
The director general of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), Nick Baveystock, said: ‘Along with many others, we remain concerned that the criteria to access the scheme may be set too high, preventing National Infrastructure Plan (NIP) projects getting off the ground.’
The Government also announced a forthcoming major relaxation of planning regulations, creating a year-long open season for homeowners and businesses to build on their properties up to certain limits, without council planning permission.
Chancellor George Osborne also promised a fresh overhaul of council planning processes this week, under legislation that will come before Parliament ‘in the next couple of weeks’.
In response, the Town and Country Planning Association’s chief planner, Dr Hugh Ellis, said the planning community was ‘bewildered’ by the Government’s approach to development, which he said had created more ‘uncertainty’.
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