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The pre-election period
In the run-up to the UK General Election, the Commission – like most other public sector bodies – is required to communicate in accordance with the 2019 General Election guidance. While the Commission is independent from government, adhering to this guidance ensures we avoid undermining our role in providing impartial, trusted advice to ministers in...
Utility regulators must have new powers if UK is to tackle climate change
The UK will fail to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 if regulators aren’t given new powers to ensure utility companies invest in sustainable infrastructure, according to a report from the National Infrastructure Commission. Chair Sir John Armitt said the UK’s regulatory system must adapt to meet the demands of the future and...
Commission vision for drought resilience recognised by engineering experts
The National Infrastructure Commission’s work on improving the resilience of England’s water supply to drought has received the Institution of Civil Engineers’ Chris Binnie Award for Sustainable Water Management. The Commission’s 2018 report Preparing for a drier future made a strong economic case for addressing future drought risk by boosting the resilience of the water...
Falling price of renewables shows a low carbon future can be low cost
The government has announced that twelve new renewable energy projects have won Contracts for Difference (CfD) – with some offshore wind schemes being delivered for as low as £39.65/MWh. It reveals a dramatic fall in the cost of offshore wind, with the strike price representing a 30% reduction on the lowest from the second CfD...
Summer disruption highlights need to understand ‘cascade effect’ on resilience of inter-connected infrastructure systems
The National Infrastructure Commission is looking to address gaps in understanding of the resilience of complex infrastructure systems so that a repeat of this summer’s major service disruptions can be avoided. In scoping its Resilience Study the NIC has highlighted the need for a concerted effort from government and infrastructure operators to develop a much...
Mayors tell PM: ‘You know the power of devolution better than anyone, now let us control our own destiny’
Today five of England’s metro mayors and leaders from cities across the country have gathered in London to set aside their political differences and demand the Prime Minister puts more power into their hands. The cross-party group is calling for further control over local transport and additional funding to help them transform connectivity in England’s...
‘Infrastructure revolution’ must be underpinned by long-term action plan
The chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission today welcomed the Chancellor’s pitch for an ‘infrastructure revolution’ in his Spending Review – but warned the National Infrastructure Strategy must deliver a truly long-term plan for the UK’s infrastructure if this aspiration is to be met. Sir John Armitt said the UK’s first-ever National Infrastructure Assessment offers a...
Government must go further to entice drivers to go electric
The government has announced that it is doubling funding for on-street electric vehicle charging to support over 1,000 new charge points across the country. An additional £2.5 million will help local authorities install charging infrastructure, which can be built into existing structures like lamp-posts. The scheme is intended to help people who don’t have off-street...
Climate-proofing the UK’s infrastructure must be a priority (article)
Our Chair Sir John Armitt has today written an article in Business Green highlighting the importance of future-proofing the UK’s infrastructure against the impacts of climate change, in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 9 on building resilient infrastructure. His text is reproduced below. “Throughout history, human beings have used infrastructure to master our...
Prime Minister sets out vision for Northern rail connectivity
The Prime Minister has today set out plans for a new high speed rail connection between Leeds and Manchester as part of a wider programme to revitalise transport and improve connectivity in the North of England. In a wide-ranging speech in Manchester this morning, the Prime Minister committed to funding a high-speed rail connection between...
Robust evidence of value of infrastructure procurement models essential to effective future investment
The procurement of infrastructure projects risks being constrained by lack of evidence on long-term investment outcomes and could have strategic implications for the UK’s ability to meet growing demand for infrastructure services and its Net Zero emissions targets. The lack of a strong evidence base on infrastructure procurements has led to the focus on a...
Civil engineering leaders endorse Commission’s plan for UK’s long-term infrastructure
A new policy paper from the professional body for civil engineers calls on the government to accept in full the recommendations made in the National Infrastructure Assessment, ahead of the appointment of a new Prime Minister and the expected publication of a National Infrastructure Strategy later this year. In response, National Infrastructure Commission Chair Sir...
MPs highlight need for swift action to boost energy efficiency of UK homes and workplaces
A new report today from MPs calls for urgent action to address poor energy efficiency in UK homes in order to avoid undermining the UK’s efforts to meet Net Zero carbon emissions, reflecting recommendations made in the National Infrastructure Assessment. The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Select Committee’s report Energy Efficiency: building towards Net...
NIC marks one year on from the UK’s first National Infrastructure Assessment
The National Infrastructure Commission today marks one year since the publication of Britain’s first-ever National Infrastructure Assessment. Published on 10 July 2018, the report sets out how we should develop our energy, transport, water and technology networks over the next thirty years. It recommends major changes, including: setting ambitious targets for renewable energy a truly...
New charging infrastructure essential to build on investment in UK electric vehicle technology
News of a boost for electric vehicle manufacturing and positive sales are a vote of confidence in an electric future for UK road transport, but must be matched by investment in charging infrastructure to help drivers make the switch from petrol and diesel cars and vans to electric, reduce air pollution and support efforts to...