Rob Mallows
Government must get UK ahead of the game in crucial engineered removals sector
The UK government must commit to the wide-scale deployment of new greenhouse gas removal technologies by 2030 in order to meet its climate change obligations, according to a report by the National Infrastructure Commission. The report sets out how the engineered removal and storage of carbon dioxide offers the most realistic way to mitigate the final slice of emissions expected to remain by the 2040s from sources...
New members to be appointed to Commission
A unique opportunity for leaders from across different fields to bring their experience to bear in helping to inform the Commission’s future work programme. A new recruitment process is underway to appoint up to three new members to the National Infrastructure Commission. The collective role of Commissioners is provide expert, impartial advice to the government...
Commission backs virtual pavilion at climate summit
The National Infrastructure Commission is supporting the creation of a Built Environment Virtual Pavilion at this November’s COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow. The pavilion – developed by the UK Green Building Council – will act as a smart virtual presence at the summit, providing a platform for a range of bodies involved in infrastructure and...
James Richardson speech to WEETF event on the hydrogen economy
The following remarks were given by our Chief Economist James Richardson at the Westminster Energy, Environment & Transport Forum event on Creating the hydrogen economy, which took place earlier today. “Hydrogen seems to inspire equal parts optimism and scepticism. Perhaps that’s only to be expected from a new technology. But I thought it would be...
Welcome boost for electric vehicle charging infrastructure
The energy regulator Ofgem has today announced £300m of investment to ensure the UK has the energy infrastructure necessary to support the move to low carbon transport and heating while maintaining secure supplies. This includes new infrastructure to support 1,800 new ultra-rapid charging points at motorway service areas. In response, a National Infrastructure Commission spokesperson...
Look beyond short term projections to guide post-Covid infrastructure decisions, says Commission
Analysing a range of scenarios for how the use of public transport, broadband networks and utilities might change as a result of Covid-19 and regularly reviewing which trends seem to be playing out is the best way of avoiding policy paralysis in the face of huge uncertainties, according to the National Infrastructure Commission. Behaviour change could make a significant difference to infrastructure demand for some sectors, but public surveys and...
Commission backs new vision for relationship between the natural and built environments
The National Infrastructure Commission has today endorsed a bold new vision for protecting and enhancing the UK’s built environment. The Commission is one of more than 35 bodies which have put their names to Vision for the Built Environment, including the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, and the...
James Heath speech to CBI Infrastructure Board
The Commission’s chief executive spoke to members of the Confederation of British Industry’s Infrastructure Board today, offering reflections on the government’s National Infrastructure Strategy, the Commission’s priorities for 2021 as set out in our Annual Monitoring Report, and to look ahead to some of the long term infrastructure challenges that the Commission is likely to...
New study on infrastructure in towns
In its 2021 Budget, the government asked the Commission to undertake a new study looking specifically at the role of infrastructure in helping towns and urban areas outside major cities. The new study will have a particular focus on the role of transport and digital infrastructure in boosting economic regeneration and levelling up. More details...
Maintaining operability of highly renewable electricity system possible at little additional cost
Concerns about operating the electricity networks when there are high levels of renewables generation can be overcome without significant costs to the consumer through effective deployment of existing and emerging technologies, according to analysis from the National Infrastructure Commission. The existing electricity network was designed around generation from coal, nuclear and gas-powered generation. Increasing the...
‘Aim for gain’ to support natural capital assets
Infrastructure developments should aim to leave the environment in a measurably better condition than before to reinforce steps already being taken to protect the UK’s diminishing natural resources, according to a discussion paper published today by the National Infrastructure Commission. Adopting this approach to ‘environmental net gain’ would help ensure losses of high value natural...
Call for evidence opens on potential of greenhouse gas removal infrastructure to boost UK net zero strategy
The National Infrastructure Commission is inviting businesses, policy makers, scientists, academics, thinktanks and investors to share their views on the potential of emerging technologies designed to remove harmful greenhouse gas emissions directly from the atmosphere and store them. The Commission has today launched a new call for evidence as part of its study examining how...
Focus rail investment on linking key cities in North and Midlands to unlock economic benefits, says Commission
Improving rail links between cities in the North and Midlands should be the first priority of a new approach to end stop-start investments and help level up the UK as part of a wider economic strategy, according to a major new report by the National Infrastructure Commission. The Commission was asked by the Prime Minister in February 2020 to undertake an assessment of proposed major rail schemes to help inform the government’s...
Commission response to government’s National Infrastructure Strategy
Alongside today’s Spending Review, the government has published a National Infrastructure Strategy and a detailed response to the National Infrastructure Commission’s landmark Assessment published in 2018. Sir John Armitt, Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, said: “Publication of the UK’s first ever National Infrastructure Strategy is an important moment, given the vital role infrastructure can...
Cities share good practice for developing local infrastructure strategies
A new toolkit curated by the National Infrastructure Commission is offering advice to cities on developing local infrastructure strategies to underpin improvements in transport, housing and employment prospects. The guidance seeks to maximise the impact of further devolution of powers and funding to city regions recommended by the Commission, by sharing experience and knowledge between...