Industrial Strategy stays silent on water

Bar one mention of the need for the Fens and Abingdon reservoirs to be built to prevent industrial and residential development being held back by water scarcity, The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy said nothing of water when it was published last week.

That was despite recognition that infrastructure is needed to underpin growth in the eight priority sectors (IS-8) identified: advanced manufacturing, creative industries, life sciences, clean energy, defence, digital/technology, professional/business services and financial services. The strategy noted, as a point nine: “Strengthening the resilience of all the IS-8 by supporting the foundational industries and their supply chains which provide vital materials and parts, from steel to chemicals, or manage essential infrastructure, from ports to electricity networks.”

Elsewhere, the Government set out its plan to make it easier to do business in the UK, including by tackling high industrial electricity prices, expanding access to finance, boosting talent availability and reducing burdens.

There was particular focus on enabling investment and growth in city regions and clusters across the UK where the IS-8 are concentrated.