Two-speed England warning for infrastructure

A new report has claimed that the government must improve infrastructure across the country and avoid the risk of regions being left behind whilst others pull ahead in a two-speed England.

Driving delivery: Turning plans into action on regional infrastructure, published by the CBI, looks at evidence of the government having shown a strong desire to improve infrastructure across the country, particularly through the HS2 and Crossrail projects, as well as the importance of transport and infrastructure development in the devolution agenda.

However, following discussions with a wide range of businesses and transport organisations across England, the CBI identifies concerns that the complexity of infrastructure decision-making and a lack of transparency around how investment decisions are made are putting the promise of greater connectivity at risk.

The business group is therefore calling for a commitment in the upcoming Comprehensive Spending Review to increase local transport funding and to consolidate the number of funding pots for local transport investment, as well as for the government to place a greater emphasis on future economic potential in infrastructure decision making to deliver investment across regions.

Additionally, there should be sub-national transport bodies in the South West and East of England, so all parts of the country are represented, alongside clearer expectations of their role, and a cross-Whitehall Infrastructure Committee, to better coordinate infrastructure planning, decision-making and delivery across government departments.

Matthew Fell, CBI chief UK policy director, said: “England’s infrastructure is a patchwork quilt. It takes longer to get from Liverpool to Hull by train than from London to Paris. Firms have identified the most important projects across the country, but uncertainty and complexity on infrastructure decision making is blocking progress, deterring investors and holding back our regions from fully realising their incredible potential.

“To set all regions up for success, we need a policy environment that turns plans into action. Increasing the funding allocated to local infrastructure in the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review, and having fewer, more impactful spending pots would put genuine power in the hands of local leaders. And where it’s the government that holds the purse strings on projects, there must be a clearer link between regional growth and decisions that are taken, with STBs making the case for all areas. If not, we risk some regions accelerating ahead of others, creating a two-speed England.

“As we focus on being an outward-looking, trading nation, we need world-beating regional infrastructure that unlocks productivity and makes us the envy of our competitors. Business and transport organisations will be the first to work with the government to achieve this.”