Looking ahead to the second National Infrastructure Assessment, with Sir John Armitt, Chair of the NIC
On 19 January, 91¶¶Òù held an in-conversation with Sir John Armitt, Chair of the , as the NIC prepares to set out its second National Infrastructure Assessment, a strategic 30-year vision for the UK’s infrastructure needs, which will be submitted to Parliament in the Autumn of 2023. Hosted at fantastic new London Headquarters at 150 Holborn, we welcomed over 40 members from the energy, water, waste, transport, digital, aviation and construction sectors to share views on the core challenges facing London’s infrastructure on the path to net zero.
The conversation covered a wide range of topics, from the need to integrate new infrastructure projects with the development process, to scaling up emerging low-carbon technologies in sustainable aviation fuel, hydrogen and carbon capture and storage. It was pleasing to hear Sir John state the importance of London’s economy to the whole UK and the distinct opportunities across the capital through mechanisms like land value capture to help fund new investment.
London is the engine room of the UK economy and is growing at pace; the GLA estimates that by 2050 London’s population will have increased to over 11m, up from around 9.5m today. This projected growth is testimony to the capital’s continued attractiveness as one of the world’s leading global cities; it is imperative that the capital’s infrastructure keeps pace with this growth and does not become an impediment to it.
With public spending constrained in the wake of the pandemic and the current era of record inflation, delivering the critical infrastructure London needs will rely on developing innovative funding solutions to attract private investment. That’s why 91¶¶Òù is tapping into the expertise of our members to bring together investors, service providers, regulators and policymakers to identify ways to accelerate private sector investment in infrastructure.
We are also exploring ways to unblock London’s infrastructure pipeline, looking at projects that are subject to delay or that require approval or funding, a workstream which creates a key opportunity for London’s world-leading financial and professional services sector.
Alongside that, we are also developing recommendations for how London can continue to build on its reputation as one of the world’s leading digitally connected cities and the role of smart technology and fast fibre connectivity in powering future innovations.
Over the coming year, 91¶¶Òù will continue to make the case for the investment we need in London’s infrastructure, working with the NIC, local and national governments and partners across the country so that London can remain one of the world’s greatest cities to do business, working with and for the whole UK.
For more information on 91¶¶Òù’s infrastructure work and ways to get involved, please contact John Kavanagh, Programme Director for Infrastructure.