Studies & Reports
Latest Updates
Electricity distribution networks: Creating capacity for the future
Study exploring how investment in local electricity distribution networks ahead of rising demand is needed to support growth and the UK's net zero goals.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Statement 2024-25
Analysis of the progress achieved in ensuring a more inclusive internal culture and policymaking processes in the Commission.
Cost drivers of major infrastructure projects in the UK
Project exploring how the UK can build economic infrastructure more quickly and cheaply, and compare favourably with its international peers.
Developing resilience standards in UK infrastructure
New analysis by the Commission which identifies where the current gaps in resilience standards are puts forward ideas on how government could address them
Project level design principles
Practical guidance for design leads to implement our design principles for national infrastructure into every stage of a project life cycle
Infrastructure Progress Review 2024
Our latest annual review of government progress in delivering its major infrastructure objectives.
Connected and automated mobility
A study exploring the implications of this emerging technology for the future management of the UK's roads and digital infrastructure.
NIA2: Impact so far
Review of the policy impacts already made by recommendations in the second National Infrastructure Assessment.
Technical annex – Natural Capital in the Second National Infrastructure Assessment
Impact and costings for recommendations in the Second National Infrastructure Assessment
Ricardo – Waste infrastructure technology mix
Data annex – Employment growth and urban connectivity of selected Primary Urban Areas
Prospective – Transport connectivity methodology
YPP – Priorities for the next generation
The YPP's report sets out their own priorities for future infrastructure strategy, with proposals focused on reaching net zero, a just transition to a lower carbon, and a more climate resilient economy.
Analysys Mason – 5G wireless deployment scenarios
Thinks Insight & Strategy – Social research
Arup – Future of Great Britain’s gas network
Warwick University – Economic impact of significant deployment of infrastructure
Steer – Urban transport capacity, demand and cost
Steer – Interurban transport connectivity assessment
Technical annex – Hydrogen heating
How the Commission arrived at its recommendation that government should not support the rollout of hydrogen heating.
Second National Infrastructure Assessment
The Commission's thirty year plan for a low carbon and resilient UK economy that supports economic growth and protects the natural environment
National Infrastructure Assessment
An analysis of the UK’s long term economic infrastructure needs, outlining a strategic vision over the next thirty years.
Infrastructure planning system
A short study reviewing the current processes for reviewing national policy statements for key infrastructure sectors
Delivering net zero, climate resilience and growth
Interurban transport advice note on roads policy
An interim report for the second National Infrastructure Assessment focusing on roads policy as part of a future integrated transport strategy.
Infrastructure Progress Review 2023
Our annual monitoring report on government progress towards major infrastructure objectives.
Reducing the risk of surface water flooding
The final report of the study on surface water flooding concludes that 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
Surface water flooding modelling technical annex: investment analysis
Surface water flooding
A study exploring how responsible bodies in England can better manage and mitigate surface water flooding.
Getting cities moving
An interim report for the second National Infrastructure Assessment says cities will need to pursue adaptive transport solutions in response to the uncertainties around transport demand resulting from the recent pandemic.
Review – responses to the Baseline Report Call for Evidence
A report by Arup for the Commission, analysing the themes raised by stakeholders in response to the 17 questions asked in the Baseline Report for the second National Infrastructure Assessment.
Second National Infrastructure Assessment Baseline Report – call for evidence submissions
Submissions received in response to 17 questions asked in the second National Infrastructure Assessment Baseline Report call for evidence, which ran from November 2021 to February 2022.
Quality of life
This discussion paper sets out the Commission's strategic position on the quality of life objective in its remit.
Managing uncertainty in the second National Infrastructure Assessment
This paper considers how infrastructure policymaking can best deal with an uncertain future.
Adverse weather scenarios for future electricity systems: project overview
A page that brings together all the research from this joint project with the Met Office and the Committee on Climate Change
Adverse weather scenarios for future electricity systems: short wind ramping events dataset
Latest report from our project with the Met Office and the Committee on Climate Change on modelling changing weather patterns to better understand their potential impact on future electricity generation.
Infrastructure Progress Review 2022
Our annual assessment of the government's progress on implementing its commitments on infrastructure.
Adverse weather scenarios for future electricity systems: short duration events
The latest findings from the collaborative project with the Met Office and the Climate Change Committee on the possible impact of adverse weather on future electricity systems.
Agent based modelling of a heat market
Research by Frontier Economics illustrating how modelling the behaviour of individual 'agents' can support policy making.
Advice note on nuclear power plant deployment
Baseline Report Annex A: Digital
Analysis of the UK's digital infrastructure which informs the Second National Infrastructure Assessment: Baseline Report.
Baseline Report Annex B: Energy
Analysis of the UK's energy generation infrastructure which informs the Baseline Report.
Baseline Report Annex C: Flood resilience
Analysis of the country's approach to flood risk management, which informs the Baseline Report.
Baseline Report Annex D: Water and wastewater
Analysis of the country's water and wastewater infrastructure which informs the Baseline Report for the second National Infrastructure Assessment.
Baseline Report Annex E: Waste
Analysis of the UK's waste infrastructure which informs the Baseline Report for the second National Infrastructure Assessment.
Baseline Report Annex F: Transport
Analysis of the country's transport infrastructure which informs the Baseline Report for the second National Infrastructure Assessment.
Second National Infrastructure Assessment: Baseline Report
Our analysis of the performance of key infrastructure sectors which will inform the work leading to the UK's second National Infrastructure Assessment
Baseline Report: Social research
Social research on the public's priorities for future infrastructure and attitudes towards solutions to address urban congestion, informing the Baseline Report.
Infrastructure, Towns and Regeneration
A study exploring how infrastructure investment can support economic prosperity and good quality of life in towns across the country.
PWC Towns social research study
Social research looking at what residents of towns across England think about the quality of their local infrastructure.
The impact of infrastructure on quality of life – literature review
Insights on how infrastructure can affect quality of life and wellbeing, particularly at the local level.
Distributional impacts analysis of engineered greenhouse gas removals
Analysis Leeds University/Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment which informed the greenhouse gas removals technology study.
Greenhouse gas removal technology attributes
Technical review by Foresight Transmissions of current knowledge on bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and direct air capture (DAC) technologies.
Policy mechanisms for supporting deployment of engineered greenhouse gas removal technologies
Greenhouse gas removal technologies
A study examining how greenhouse gas removal technologies can support the UK's climate ambitions.
Call for evidence submissions to greenhouse gas removals technology study
Adverse weather scenarios for future electricity systems: long duration events
Impact of historic shocks on infrastructure demand
Behaviour change scenario development methodology
Infrastructure demand quantitative analysis for scenarios of behaviour change
Behaviour change and infrastructure beyond Covid-19
A range of scenarios for how behavioural trends resulting from the pandemic may impact future infrastructure use.
Operability of highly renewable electricity systems
A highly renewable electricity system can maintain a stable supply without adding significantly to the costs of generation.
Annual Monitoring Report 2021
Our annual assessment of the government’s progress in delivering infrastructure projects and programmes recommended by the Commission.
Natural capital and environmental net gain
A discussion paper examining how infrastructure development can contribute to protecting the country's natural environment.
Rail Needs Assessment for the Midlands and the North: Modelling and data annex
Rail Needs Assessment for the Midlands and the North: Reference class forecast
Rail Needs Assessment for the Midlands and the North: Amenity benefit valuation
Rail Needs Assessment for the Midlands and the North: Social research
Growth across regions
How the Commission sees the relationship between economic infrastructure and local economic growth.
Cities Programme
Work with a range of cities to share knowledge and expertise, and to help local leaders develop long term strategies.
Principles for effective urban infrastructure
Resilience
Review of emergent behaviours of systems comparable to infrastructure systems
Emergent behaviour within the economic infrastructure system-of-systems
System mapping for UK infrastructure systems decision making
Annual Monitoring Report 2020 annex
Nuclear power reference classes
Financing models for nuclear power
Summary of responses to initial consultation on resilience
Evaluating the performance of private financing and traditional procurement
Methodology and findings of analytical framework project – annex
Weather and climate change risks in a highly renewable UK energy system
Lessons Learnt: reviewing the process of the first National Infrastructure Assessment
Annual Monitoring Report 2019 annex
Future of Regulation Study: call for evidence
Next steps for cities
Phase 2 social research
Social research on the public's views on infrastructure services, to help inform the first National Infrastructure Assessment.
National Infrastructure Assessment 1
The National Infrastructure Assessment looks at the United Kingdom’s future economic infrastructure needs up to 2050 and makes key recommendations for how to deliver new transport, low carbon energy and digital networks, how to recycle more and waste less, and how future infrastructure should be paid for.
Study of national infrastructure financing institutions
Analysis of drought resilience
The value of design in infrastructure delivery
Interim Assessment consultation responses analysis
Power system effects of electric vehicles
National Infrastructure Assessment Table 7.1 supplement
Future benefits of broadband networks
Design and infrastructure: sector review of attitudes
Energy and fuel bills today and in 2050
Flood standards of protection and risk management activities
Analysis of the costs of emergency drought options
Framework for evaluating performance of private financing and procurement
Developing design principles for national infrastructure
Effect of capacity constraints on population and employment distribution
Cost analysis of future heat infrastructure
Power sector modelling: system cost impacts of renewables
Role and impact of the EIB & GIB on UK infrastructure investment
Waste infrastructure analysis for England
Preparing for a drier future
Costs of water resource management options to enhance drought resilience
Investing in a digital future
Costs for digital communications infrastructures
Resilience of digitally connected infrastructure systems – appendices
Infrastructure and digital systems resilience
Resilience of digitally connected infrastructure systems – literature review
Scenarios of future water availability
Northants first-last mile strategy
Part of the evidence base which informed the Partnering for Prosperity report.
Milton Keynes first-last mile strategy
Part of the evidence base which informed the Partnering for Prosperity report.
Oxford(shire) first-last mile strategy
Part of the evidence base for the Partnering for Prosperity report.
Greater Cambridge first-last mile strategy
Part of the evidence base for the Partnering for Prosperity report.
Growth corridor first-last mile strategy analysis
Analysis by SDG which formed part of the evidence base for the Partnering for Prosperity report.
Phase 1 social research
Social research on the public's views on infrastructure services, to help inform the first National Infrastructure Assessment.
International infrastructure governance
Research into infrastructure decision-making and consenting in a range of countries that have relevance to the British context, to help inform the first National Infrastructure Assessment.
UK infrastructure funding pipeline analysis
Research into the strategic financing choices made by the private sector when investing in UK infrastructure, carried out ahead of the first National Infrastructure Assessment.
Congestion, Capacity, Carbon – modelling annex and data
The modelling behind the interim National Infrastructure Assessment, Congestion, Capacity, Carbon – priorities for national infrastructure.
Congestion, Capacity, Carbon – priorities for national infrastructure
Infrastructure finance market analysis summary
Further research into the strategic financing choices made by the private sector when investing in UK infrastructure; part of the supporting evidence for the first National Infrastructure Assessment.
Citizen research
Focus group and survey information by Britain Thinks which formed part of the supporting evidence for the first National Infrastructure Assessment.
Review of infrastructure financing market
Research into the strategic financing choices made by the private sector when investing in UK infrastructure, forming part of the evidence base for the first National Infrastructure Assessment.
The Digital Twin Data Challenge
The impact of the environment and climate change on future infrastructure supply and demand
A paper focused on the environment, forming part of a series looking at the drivers of future infrastructure supply and demand in the UK.
Performance measures
A study to identify a set of quantitative performance measures that will be used to establish an understanding of the status of the UK’s existing infrastructure assets.
Strategic Infrastructure Planning: International Best Practice
A report reviewing experiences with strategic infrastructure planning with a view to identify international best practices.
Property market analysis for the CaMKOx arc
A report reviewing the residential and commercial property markets within the Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Oxford and Northampton corridor.
Transport analysis for the Cambridge – Milton Keynes – Oxford Corridor
Research investigating transportation infrastructure and its interaction with housing, finance and economic activity across the Cambridge–Milton Keynes–Oxford corridor.
Funding and investment analysis for the CaMKOx arc
A report assessing public funding trends and the potential to attract additional investment into the Cambridge-Milton Keynes-Oxford Corridor.
Economic analysis growth corridor
Research on the economic rationale for infrastructure investment in the Cambridge, Oxford, Milton Keynes arc, part of the evidence base for the report Partnering for Prosperity.
Financing for infrastructure summary report
Report by CEPA on the issues related to the provision of private finance for infrastructure, forming part of the supporting evidence for the first National Infrastructure Assessment.
Strategic planning and governance in the Cambridge – Milton Keynes – Oxford corridor: discussion paper
Economic growth and demand for infrastructure services
A paper focused on economic growth, forming part of a series looking at the drivers of future infrastructure supply and demand in the UK.
Technology Study: Call for Evidence
The impact of population change and demography on future infrastructure demand
A paper focused on population change, forming part of a series looking at the drivers of future infrastructure supply and demand in the UK.
Future use cases for mobile UK
An external report to establish representative use cases for future mobile telecommunications in the UK.
Incentives to invest in 5G
An external report exploring the extent to which existing private and public telecommunications infrastructure in the UK is prepared for the next generation of fixed and wireless networks.
5G Infrastructure requirements for the UK
An external report exploring the extent to which existing private and public telecommunications infrastructure in the UK is prepared for the next generation of fixed and wireless networks.
The impact of technological change on future infrastructure supply and demand
This paper, focussing on technology, forms part of a series looking at the drivers of future infrastructure supply and demand in the UK.
National Infrastructure Assessment process and methodology: Commission response to consultation
National Infrastructure Assessment: Call For Evidence
National Infrastructure Assessment process and methodology: Consultation
Summary of the process of consultation with stakeholders on the approach to be taken on the first National Infrastructure Assessment.
National Infrastructure Assessment process and methodology
A consultation document issued at the start of the work leading to the UK's first National Infrastructure Assessment in 2018.
Process and methodology consultation responses
Responses received to the consultation on the Commission's proposed approach to the first National Infrastructure Assessment.
Exploring the cost, coverage and rollout implications of 5G in Britain
External research by Oughton and Frias which formed part of the evidence base for the Connected Future report.
Transport for a world city: evidence submissions
The call for evidence informed the Commission's study on London's long term transport infrastructure needs.
Costs and benefits of GB interconnection
Research by Poyry forming part of the supporting evidence for the Smart Power report.
Delivering future-proof energy infrastructure
External research by UCL and the University of Cambridge's Energy Policy Research Group on the challenges and opportunities for delivering future-proof energy infrastructure, informing the Smart Power report.
