Ben Wilson
Commission welcomes move to more sustainable drainage for new developments
The government has today (10 January 2023) announced its intention to implement Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act in England (subject to consultation). This shift in policy will make sustainable drainage solutions the default for almost all new developments in England, and make the right to connect surface water runoff to public...
Commission welcomes Resilience Framework
The UK government has published a Resilience Framework that commits to taking forward the Commission’s recommendations on resilience standards for key infrastructure sectors and stress testing to help assure them. The strategy document – the first of its kind for the UK – pledges government action to “introduce standards on resilience and develop an action...
600,000 properties face future flooding without action to reduce urban runoff and improve drainage systems
Stricter controls on new property developments alongside up to £12bn of investment in drainage infrastructure over the next thirty years will be necessary to stop thousands more homes and businesses from flooding due to inadequate drainage, according to a new report by the National Infrastructure Commission. Localised floods across England last month alongside a series...
James Heath: Is the cost-of-living crisis an infrastructure crisis?
James Heath, Chief Executive of the National Infrastructure Commission, spoke at the London Infrastructure Summit today (10 November 2022) organised by BusinessLDN. In his remarks, James reflects on the challenges facing infrastructure sectors as they decarbonise, in particular the need for significant capital investment against a backdrop of economic constraints. James sets out the conditions...
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough leaders inform national infrastructure advisers’ fact-finding tour
Ensuring Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and the surrounding areas have the infrastructure in place to help connect people to well paid jobs and sustainably grow the local economy was on the agenda as the government’s official advisers on infrastructure visited the region today (Wednesday, 2 November). Improving rural connectivity through better public transport and broadband, enhancing flood...
Parliamentary Committee backs Commission’s plan for stronger infrastructure resilience
A Parliamentary Committee has called on government to act quickly on National Infrastructure Commission recommendations to improve the resilience of key infrastructure services, in a hard hitting critique of government’s current approach to ensuring security of key national infrastructure. In a report published today (27 October 2022), the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy...
Armitt: Exit strategy from fossil fuels will boost energy security and lower household costs
In an extended essay published in the Daily Telegraph on 29 September 2022, Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, Sir John Armitt, explores the importance of accelerating the development of renewable energy sources, cutting energy waste and boosting the take-up of low carbon heating to together help increase the UK’s energy security and reduce costs...
Planning changes “need to put wind in the sails” of major infrastructure projects
The government has today (23 September 2022) published its Growth Plan, which includes proposals to accelerate the delivery of key infrastructure. The Plan includes pledges to prioritise publication of new National Policy Statements for energy, water resources and national networks; reform of the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project planning system; and steps to amend onshore wind...
Reducing planning delays requires update to national policy statements, says Commission
The government has today (30 August 2022) published a policy paper outlining steps which seek to speed up the planning process for major national infrastructure projects (NSIPs). Through amendments to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, government intends to enable ministers to set a shorter statutory timeframe for Development Consent Order examinations and to speed...
Commission repeats call for “urgent and fundamental reform” of local transport funding
The government has today published a formal response to the National Infrastructure Commission’s September 2021 report on how infrastructure can support economic growth and quality of life in English towns. The Commission’s central recommendation was a shift towards handing power to local areas to deliver their own infrastructure strategies with five-year devolved budgets, and a...
Armitt on drought resilience: fixing leaks, reducing demand, building supply
In a comment piece for The Times’ Red Box, Commission Chair Sir John Armitt today sets out steps to help reduce the risk of future severe drought in England. The piece, reproduced below, argues for further action on identifying leaks, expanding water metering and reducing consumer demand, and building new supply and transfer infrastructure. Sir...
Government’s next steps on freight: welcome ambition, detailed plans now needed
This week the government published its long-term plan for the freight sector, Future of Freight. Government committed to publishing this in its response to the Commission’s 2019 study, Better Delivery: The challenge for freight. The Commission’s main conclusion in that study was that through the adoption of new technologies and the recognition of freight’s needs...
First stop Manchester for national infrastructure advisers’ fact finding tour
Ensuring Greater Manchester has the infrastructure in place to meet the needs of the year 2050 will be on the agenda as the government’s official advisers on infrastructure policy kick off a national tour with a visit to the region today (Monday 13 June). Maximising the opportunities provided by HS2, the importance of further investment...
James Heath’s speech to Utility Week Live: climate adaptation and resilience
The Commission’s Chief Executive, James Heath, today (17 May 2022) gave a keynote address at Utility Week Live on climate adaptation and resilience. The session, held at the Birmingham NEC, explored utilities’ approaches to adaptation planning and how they are seeking to build resilience to respond to the impacts of climate change already present, as...
James Heath sets out Commission’s approach to surface water flooding
James Heath, Chief Executive of the National Infrastructure Commission, addressed a Westminster Energy, Environment and Transport Forum event today (19 April 2022) on Priorities for water management. James’ speech sets out the approach the Commission is taking to its ongoing study on surface water flooding, including exploring the role of governance, performance standards and investment...