National infrastructure strategy
“To ensure that the benefits of a prospering economy
reach every corner of the United Kingdom, my Ministers will bring
fonvard a National Infrastructure Strategy. This will set out a
long-term vision to improve the nation’s digital, transport and
energy infrastructure. ”
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The National Infrastructure Strategy, due to be published
later in the autumn, will set out plans to deliver a step
change in infrastructure investment across the whole of the
UK.
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The Strategy will set out the Government’s long-term
ambitions across all areas of economic infrastructure including
transport, local growth, decarbonisation, digital
infrastructure, infrastructure finance and delivery.
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The Strategy will have two key aims:
o To help close the productivity gap between
London and other parts of the country - so all places are able to
benefit from vital infrastructure and better living standards
helping people get better access to opportunities and
jobs.
o To address the critical challenges posed by
climate change and build on the UK’s world-leading commitment to
achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
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The Strategy will also provide the Government’s formal
response to the National Infrastructure Commission’s 2018
National Infrastructure Assessment, which made a series of
independent recommendations to government across all sectors of
economic infrastructure (transport, energy, digital, waste,
water and flood management).
Key facts
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The National Infrastructure Commission (the Commission)
was set up in 2015 to provide the government with impartial,
expert advice on the UK’s long-term infrastructure priorities.
It was formally established as an Executive Agency of HM
Treasury in 2017.
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The Commission’s first National Infrastructure Assessment
was published in July 2018, and made a series of
recommendations to Government across all sectors of economic
infrastructure. The Government has committed to responding to
these recommendations through the publication of a National
Infrastructure Strategy, which will set out plans to close the
productivity gap between London and other parts of
the UK and address the critical challenges posed by climate
change.
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The Government will look to introduce any legislation
required to deliver plans set out in the infrastructure
strategy in due course.
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Much infrastructure policy is devolved. Any changes to
reserved policy areas will apply across the whole of the UK,
and the Devolved Administrations will benefit from Barnett
allocations relating to any increase in spending.
