National Infrastructure Commission chair Sir John Armitt has call on everyone involved in infrastructure to “make 2022 a year of acceleration rather than prevarication”.
Addressing the All Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure, Sir John argued: “The overarching question we have to answer in 2022, it seems to me, is how we can retain – and in some areas rebuild – public confidence that our infrastructure will be fit for the future.”
He cited a fall in confidence in the fitness of infrastructure sectors to meet 2050 needs over recent months, relating to river pollution, power outages and flooding following storms, and Covid-related cuts to train services.
In the face of this, Sir John said, “only a truly strategic approach will work” and the best short term solution would be to make the case for a long term solution. He urged the government to stick with its National Infrastructure Strategy but to move quickly on implementation – “let’s get on with policy design and with delivery”.
He acknowledged the scale of the challenge will have increased with cost of living rises, but argued: “The challenge is how to keep pace with investing for the future, while bringing the public – taxpayers and billpayers – with us on the journey. The transition to net zero must be fair if it is going to be accepted by the public…Ducking this challenge now will delay the outcomes that people want to see; and in many instances, increase overall costs.”
He called on stakeholders to be open and honest with the public about future infrastructure costs “but also about the costs of inaction”.
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