National Infrastructure Assessment
Status:Analysis.
An assessment of the United Kingdom's infrastructure needs to 2050 and beyond.
Every five years, the Commission publishes a National Infrastructure Assessment.
Each Assessment analyses the UK’s long term economic infrastructure needs, outlining a strategic vision over the next thirty years and setting out recommendations for how identified needs should be met.
The Commission is now working on the second National Infrastructure Assessment, to be published in autumn 2023.
To start the process the Commission published a Baseline Report in November 2021 which summarises the current performance of key infrastructure sectors. Use the buttons above to click through and read the Baseline Report and access the separate annexes for each sector.
The Baseline Report uses this data, alongside social research, to establish the main priorities the Commission intends to explore in the next Assessment.
These studies will focus on three key strategic outcomes:
- reaching net zero
- reducing environmental impacts and adapting to a changing climate
- supporting levelling up.
The Commission held a Call for Evidence on the study topics, to inform its scoping and research phase (this has now closed).
It will continue to engage with stakeholders throughout the analysis phase and plans to hold both virtual and physical events to discuss its emerging work.
The final Assessment report and recommendations to government will be published in the second half of 2023.
Register for updates
Use this form to below to register with us to receive periodic updates on the progress of the second Assessment.
National Infrastructure Assessment 1
Published in 2018, the Commission's first Assessment included recommendations on digital connectivity, low carbon energy, drought and flood risk management, towns and urban transport, design, and funding.
Second National Infrastructure Assessment: Baseline Report
This report will help the Commission prepare for the next Assessment by surveying the current state of the digital, energy, flood resilience, water and wastewater, waste and transport sectors.
Latest Updates
Coming up in 2022
This page shows a calendar reflecting the latest expected dates for Commission reports, publications and events. You can also sign up to receive our quarterly newsletter by entering your email address in the box at the very foot of our homepage; or sign up to receive updates specifically on the programme for the second National...
We’re recruiting: Senior Policy Adviser
The Commission is looking for someone to join our policy team and take a leading role in our work on the second National Infrastructure Assessment – due to be published in 2023 – which will make a series of recommendations to government on how to ensure the UK is equipped to meet its long-term infrastructure...
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.
NIA2 Baseline Charts
Data from the Baseline Report providing an overview of the current performance of the infrastructure sectors within the Commission's remit
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.
Warming up a new way to model future behaviours
An opinion piece by David Menzies, Modelling Lead for the National Infrastructure Commission. To a large extent, how you heat your home is your decision. For most people it’s also a decision taken when their existing heating system is at or near the end of its life. Will you keep gas central heating? Will you...
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
Commission pinpoints strategic gaps in infrastructure planning ahead of next landmark national assessment
The National Infrastructure Commission has announced the topics that will sit at the heart of its next major assessment of the UK’s long term infrastructure priorities, to be published in 2023, following analysis of the current performance of key sectors. The priorities will include identifying the infrastructure needed for hydrogen and carbon capture and storage...
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
James Heath speech to WEETF on delivering Gigabit-capable broadband
The following remarks were shared by the Commission’s Chief Executive James Heath at a WEETF eForum event on 2 November on the theme of ‘Delivering Gigabit-capable full-fibre broadband’. “I should start off by declaring an interest. Before I joined the National Infrastructure Commission, I worked at DCMS and was involved in designing the government’s broadband...
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.
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...