National Infrastructure Assessment

Status:Analysis.   Published:

An assessment of the United Kingdom's infrastructure needs to 2055 and beyond.

Second National Infrastructure Assessment
Scout Moor windarm and the Naden Reservoirs near Rochdale

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

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NIA2: Impact so far
T pylons under construction

NIA2: Impact so far

Review of the policy impacts already made by recommendations in the second National Infrastructure Assessment.

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Technical annex – Hydrogen heating
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Technical annex – Hydrogen heating

How the Commission arrived at its recommendation that government should not support the rollout of hydrogen heating.

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The Second National Infrastructure Assesset sets out how the UK can have a low carbon and resilient economy with infrastructure that supports economic growth and protects the natural environment.

Every five years the Commission publishes a National Infrastructure Assessment which analyses the UK’s long term economic infrastructure needs, and presents a strategic vision over the next thirty years and setting out recommendations for how identified needs should be met.

The Second National Infrastructure Assessment is our second such report. Published on 18 October 2023 it is informed by the Commission’s core objectives to support sustainable economic growth across all regions of the UK, improve competitiveness, improve quality of life, and support climate resilience and the transition to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Watch the launch event, with a summary of the Assessment’s findings presented by Commissioners

The Assessment covers every infrastructure sector, with recommendations for transport, energy, water and wastewater, flood resilience, digital connectivity, and waste. It presents a 30 year view of the infrastructure needs within the UK’s government competence and identifies the policies and funding to meet them.

Five years on from our first Assessment, this second report recognises the UK has already made significant progress in boosting renewable electricity generation, devolving more transport funding to city regions, and building its gigabit cable broadband networks.

But it also highlights there is still a lot to do to prepare the country for three key challenges that lie ahead:

  • decarbonising energy and achieving net zero emissions
  • supporting economic growth across all regions
  • improving climate resilience and the environment

The Assessment is the product of over two years’ work by the Commission, which involved extensive engagement with stakeholders across all sectors of infrastructure.

Latest news on NIA 2

With the Second National Infrastructure Assessment now published, here you'll find the most last news about the report and its impact.

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Latest Updates

Coming up in 2024
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Coming up in 2024

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 foot of each website page.

1 Feb 2024 By
Views sought on project level design principles
Pedestrians crossing an unusual shaped footbridge over rail tracks

Views sought on project level design principles

Infrastructure professionals are being invited to share their views and experiences of working with project-specific design principles to help inform new national guidance. The National Infrastructure Commission’s Design Group, chaired by Sadie Morgan, is seeking input on how such principles can work in practice and examples of the difference they can make at different stages...

31 Jan 2024 By
Broad coalition of public and private bodies back Commission’s vision for infrastructure

Broad coalition of public and private bodies back Commission’s vision for infrastructure

The Second National Infrastructure Assessment, published today, has already attracted broad support from a range of membership and representative bodies, as well as experts from across the sectors in the Commission’s remit. A selection of comments can be found below. The Commission is grateful to all of the many organisations it has consulted during the...

18 Oct 2023 By
Second National Infrastructure Assessment
Scout Moor windarm and the Naden Reservoirs near Rochdale

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

18 Oct 2023
James Heath: “pace, not perfection” key to reducing infrastructure emissions
An image showing two men helping to build a wind turbine in County Durham

James Heath: “pace, not perfection” key to reducing infrastructure emissions

Commission chief executive James Heath spoke this afternoon (6 July) to the 18th Annual UK Sustainable Infrastructure Summit in London. In his remarks he explored the scale of the challenge facing the UK in fully decarbonising its energy systems by 2050 and the principles the Commission is using to guide the recommendations it will make...

6 Jul 2023 By
Jim Hall: NAO report highlights “stuttering progress” on waste reduction
Rubbish being collected in Rickmansworth

Jim Hall: NAO report highlights “stuttering progress” on waste reduction

The National Audit Office – the independent government spending watchdog – has this morning published a report highlighting what it sees as the lack of significant progress in delivering on the objectives set out in government’s waste management strategy, since its publication in 2018. Its report – The government’s resources and waste reforms for England...

30 Jun 2023 By
Cornwall’s green energy ambitions
An aerial view of Truro in Cornwall

Cornwall’s green energy ambitions

Members of the Commission secretariat travelled to Truro on Tuesday (6 June) for discussions with local political leaders, infrastructure operators and businesses and voluntary sector bodies from across the county – and energy was high up the agenda. Hosted by senior officials from Cornwall Council and joined by the leader and chief executive, the session...

8 Jun 2023 By
Clean energy and better recycling among North Yorkshire’s infrastructure priorities

Clean energy and better recycling among North Yorkshire’s infrastructure priorities

Members of the Commission team were in Harrogate and Knaresborough yesterday (26 April) meeting local political leaders and businesses from across North Yorkshire and learning more about the county’s priorities around delivering net zero, creating a low-waste economy and the challenges of digital connectivity in what is a largely rural region. A roundtable in Harrogate’s...

27 Apr 2023 By
Response to Spring Budget: Welcome moves on devolution and CCUS
Sir John Armitt Profile Image

Response to Spring Budget: Welcome moves on devolution and CCUS

Responding to today’s Spring Budget, Sir John Armitt, Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, said: Devolution and local transport “Today’s confirmation of extensions to City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements and multi year single settlements for the West Midlands and Greater Manchester are big strides forward for devolution. “But trailblazers only warrant the name if others...

15 Mar 2023 By
James Heath at Water Industry Forum: Long term solutions to fix ‘too much, too little, too dirty’ water
A garden being watered with a hosepipe

James Heath at Water Industry Forum: Long term solutions to fix ‘too much, too little, too dirty’ water

James Heath, Chief Executive of the National Infrastructure Commission, addressed the Water Industry Forum’s annual dinner in Leeds yesterday (8 March 2023). In his remarks, he sets out the ‘triple challenge’ facing the sector and the need for a fresh approach that sets out clear goals and long term strategies for achieving them, supported by...

9 Mar 2023 By
James Heath’s speech at Northern Transport Summit: Connecting the North’s towns, cities and communities
Leeds from the air

James Heath’s speech at Northern Transport Summit: Connecting the North’s towns, cities and communities

James Heath, Chief Executive of the National Infrastructure Commission, gave a keynote address at the Northern Transport Summit held in Liverpool today (23 February 2023). In his remarks, James stresses the importance of investing in a more resilient rail service for the North, before outlining the Commission’s approach to analysing the specific role transport modes...

23 Feb 2023 By
Transport and infrastructure funding to fore in discussions with capital’s leaders
Seb Dance and Sir John shown seated together during the meeting

Transport and infrastructure funding to fore in discussions with capital’s leaders

With the capital bathed in bright winter sunshine, members of the Commission spent yesterday (19 January) meeting London’s business and political leaders to better understand the city’s infrastructure priorities. This was the sixth regional visit to inform the second National Infrastructure Assessment, to be published this autumn. On the banks of the Royal Victoria Dock...

20 Jan 2023 By
Bridget Rosewell steps down as a Commissioner
Picture of Bridget Rosewell, Commissioner

Bridget Rosewell steps down as a Commissioner

Bridget Rosewell is stepping down as a National Infrastructure Commissioner and will now support the Commission as a specialist adviser in the run up to the next National Infrastructure Assessment. The change in role follows Bridget’s appointment as a non-executive director of the UK Infrastructure Bank. During her seven-year tenure at the Commission, Bridget contributed...

3 Jan 2023 By
Better infrastructure for all, with the emphasis on all
Family members standing, waiting at a bus stop smiling and laughing with each other. They are all wearing casual clothing.

Better infrastructure for all, with the emphasis on all

Christmas may be a traditional time for warm words. But this blog is about moving beyond warm words to a deeper understanding of how economic infrastructure can best serve the needs of all members of society. Let me offer just one example. As we approach the shortest day of the year, there will be people...

19 Dec 2022 By
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough leaders inform national infrastructure advisers’ fact-finding tour
Commissioners including Sir John Armitt shown alongside Mayor Nik Johnson standing outside Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority offices, Huntingdon

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough leaders inform national infrastructure advisers’ fact-finding tour

Ensuring Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and the surrounding areas have the infrastructure in place to help connect people to well paid jobs and sustainably grow the local economy was on the agenda as the government’s official advisers on infrastructure visited the region today (Wednesday, 2 November). Improving rural connectivity through better public transport and broadband, enhancing flood...

2 Nov 2022 By
Armitt: Exit strategy from fossil fuels will boost energy security and lower household costs

Armitt: Exit strategy from fossil fuels will boost energy security and lower household costs

In an extended essay published in the Daily Telegraph on 29 September 2022, Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, Sir John Armitt, explores the importance of accelerating the development of renewable energy sources, cutting energy waste and boosting the take-up of low carbon heating to together help increase the UK’s energy security and reduce costs...

29 Sep 2022 By

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