Universal basic infrastructure should be “the foundation” for securing economic growth across the country, chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission Lord Adonis said today.

He welcomed this central finding from the Industrial Strategy Commission, arguing that this would need to include good quality transport links, and access to the latest mobile and broadband connections. 

Today’s report offers advice to Ministers ahead of publication of a new Industrial Strategy.  As well as improvements to and sustained investment in infrastructure, it also recommends measures to ensure the Strategy makes an impact on all parts of the country through a dedicated unit, and moves towards low carbon energy sources.

Chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission Lord Adonis said:

“Today’s report from Dame Kate Barker and her team at the Industrial Strategy Commission outlines clearly the measures we need to take to ensure all parts of the country benefit from sustained economic growth.

“The foundation of this has to be universal access to basic infrastructure – that’s why our recent report highlighted the need to invest in good transport links, in securing access to the latest mobile and broadband technology and new capacity for water supply and flood risk management.

“Our efforts to grow the economy and improve quality of life are currently under threat from the three Cs of congestion, capacity and carbon – this report, together with our interim National Infrastructure Assessment, demonstrate how these can be tackled to the benefit of all communities.”