Twenty-eight leading built environment organisations have signed a joint open letter urging Andy Burnham to maintain the UK’s existing infrastructure plans when he arrives in No 10 Downing Street later this week.
Burnham is expected to take over as prime minister from Sir Keir Starmer this coming Friday (17 July).
The letter, coordinated by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), has brought together major contractors, consultants, professional institutions and business organisations in a united call for political consistency on infrastructure investment.
The signatories have argued that the government’s previous 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy and accompanying Infrastructure Pipeline provided long-awaited certainty for industry and investors, setting out a clear programme of investment and reform worth £725bn over the next decade.
But they warn that changing direction now could undermine confidence, delay delivery and increase costs at a time when infrastructure investment is critical to economic growth, regional prosperity, climate resilience and improved connectivity.
It has been widely reported that infrastructure investment could be one casualty of finding the money to increase the country’s spending on defence, for example.
Dr Janet Young, director general of the ICE, said: “The 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy and the accompanying pipeline have given the sector the clarity and stability it’s long needed. Ripping up plans and stopping and starting projects creates uncertainty, which can deter investment and drive-up costs.
“It also delays delivering benefits to the public. Now that clear plans backed by the industry are in place, our focus must be on implementing them to deliver the infrastructure the UK needs,” she added.
Sue Percy CBE, chief executive of one of the signatories, the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT), said: “The UK needs long-term certainty if we are to deliver the transport and infrastructure networks communities depend upon.
“We strongly believe that stable, consistent investment provides the confidence needed to plan, develop and deliver the projects that support economic growth, improve connectivity, enhance resilience and help meet our climate commitments. We are pleased to join colleagues from across the built environment sector in calling for a continued focus on delivering the infrastructure plans already in place,” she added.
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