National Infrastructure Assessment
Status:Analysis. Published:
An assessment of the United Kingdom's infrastructure needs to 2055 and beyond.
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
Online summary of NIA 2
This online summary allows you to scroll through the main headlines of second Assessment in a few minutes
Technical annex – Hydrogen heating
How the Commission arrived at its recommendation that government should not support the rollout of hydrogen heating.
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.
Latest Updates
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...
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
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Commission hears from Bristol about city’s infrastructure priorities
Friday last week (22 July) saw Commissioners in Bristol for our fourth regional visit of the summer, meeting the city’s Mayor and local leaders and businesses, and local residents, to understand the city’s infrastructure challenges. After a one-to-one meeting, Sir John Armitt and the Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees co-hosted a roundtable with representatives from...