NIC
Shoring up our water supplies
This week we marked ten years since the Climate Change Act. Since the passing of this key piece of legislation, we as a country have become international leaders in this field – yet there is clearly much more to do. As well as reducing carbon emissions we also need to prepare for the effects climate...
New survey reveals strong public support for infrastructure investment
Sir John Armitt today welcomed a new survey showing strong public support for investment in infrastructure – and recognition of its benefits to the wider UK economy. The chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission said this demonstrated the importance of planning for meeting the UK’s long term needs – as outlined in the UK’s first-ever...
Carbon capture plan welcome – and can be expanded to cut emissions from heat
The Government’s action plan on introducing carbon capture and storage to tackle emissions is welcome – and should be aligned with recommendations for a large-scale trial of hydrogen as an alternative to natural gas, the National Infrastructure Commission says today. With 32 per cent of the UK’s emissions coming from heat, tackling this must be...
Welcome moves by Ministers to tackle water leakages
Environment Secretary Michael Gove has announced plans to improve the resilience of England’s water supply and set a clear target to halve water leakages by 2050 – matching a key recommendation by the National Infrastructure Commission. Such a move would ensure the country’s water supply system could better withstand droughts. In a speech, Environment Secretary...
Industrial Strategy one year on: Armitt welcomes continued central role for infrastructure
Sir John Armitt today welcomed the central role that infrastructure continues to play in the Government’s Industrial Strategy one year on from its launch – and the alignment between its commitment to clean growth and improved productivity and the recommendations in the UK’s first-ever National Infrastructure Assessment. The chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission urged...
New report echoes call for hydrogen trials for low-carbon heat
A new report by the Committee on Climate Change calls for action from government to find low-carbon alternatives to natural gas to meet the UK’s heating needs – mirroring findings in the UK’s first ever National Infrastructure Assessment. In their report the Committee calls on Ministers to deliver a low carbon heat strategy within the...
Four market principles ‘in line with making the most of renewables’
Greg Clark this week outlined four principles for the power sector – in line with recommendations in the UK’s first-ever National Infrastructure Assessment. Speaking on Thursday, the Business Secretary offered the Government’s response to the Helm Review, highlighting the clear evidence that renewables such as wind and solar are getting cheaper and the increasing role...
Budget infrastructure measures welcome – but new strategy will be the “real test”
The chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission today welcomed Budget measures announced this week, aimed at improving key parts of the UK’s infrastructure – but warned that the “real test” will be the Government’s proposed National Infrastructure Strategy. Sir John Armitt said the UK’s first-ever National Infrastructure Assessment offers a clear path for meeting the...
National and local leadership needed to meet Growth Arc potential
The one million new homes needed in the Growth Arc spanning Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Oxford will not be delivered without continued and concerted Government involvement, the National Infrastructure Commission warned today. Commissioners supported measures announced at the Budget to promote further development of the Growth Arc, which are in line with recommendations made by...
New resilience study to examine how infrastructure can withstand future challenges
The National Infrastructure Commission is to examine the resilience of the UK’s infrastructure in a new study announced by the Chancellor in today’s Budget. The study will consider what action government should take to ensure that infrastructure can cope with future changes, disruptions, shocks and accidents. Services like utilities, transport and telecommunications are becoming increasingly...
New report highlights need to tackle flood risk facing coastal communities
The Committee on Climate Change today calls for a long-term approach to protecting communities from the threat of flooding in coastal areas – echoing findings in the UK’s first-ever National Infrastructure Assessment. In their report published today, the Committee on Climate Change warns that over half a million properties are at risk from flooding and...
Growth Arc’s economic future “can be secured while protecting the environment”
The economic future of the arc spanning Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Oxford can be secured while retaining the area’s natural beauty – contrary to claims by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE). In its report published today, the CPRE claims that recommendations put forward by the National Infrastructure Commission for new homes and improved...
Armitt: Speech to Global Engineering Congress
Below is the text of National Infrastructure Commission Chair Sir John Armitt’s speech to the Global Engineering Congress at the Institution of Civil Engineers in London on 24 October Check against delivery We meet just a matter of weeks after the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change gave one of its starkest-ever warnings of what could...
Commons Committee ‘right to call for action now’ to support electric vehicle roll-out
An influential select committee today called on the Government to be more ambitious in encouraging take-up of electric cars, and bring forward their proposals for 100 per cent electric car and van sales from 2040 to 2032 – which would be in line with recommendations in the National Infrastructure Assessment The business, energy and industrial...
Armitt welcomes steps towards low-carbon heating as part of wider climate change ambitions
Sir John Armitt today welcomed the Government’s announcement of a package of measures to develop greener infrastructure – and encouraged Ministers to go even further. The Chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission highlighted recommendations in the UK’s first-ever National Infrastructure Assessment, to find low-carbon alternatives for natural gas for heating, and to gather further evidence...