Morning, Thursday, 21st November 2024
Online
The conference will consider next steps for the funding, delivery and decarbonisation of infrastructure projects in England and Wales, and implications for developments across the UK.
It will be an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to assess priorities for improving efficiency and cost-effectiveness in financing and delivery of infrastructure projects, following the Government announcing a Planning and Infrastructure Bill aimed at accelerating major infrastructure projects, and the creation of a National Wealth Fund to help boost growth and unlock private investment.
Delegates will assess whether the new Government’s proposals go far enough to address concerns raised in the NIC’s Second National Infrastructure Assessment published in 2023, which called for a more efficient mix of public and private sector investment. It will be an opportunity to assess strategies for fostering increased private sector investment and next steps for collaboration and partnerships between the public and private sectors.
Delegates will consider the demand for further public sector funding to drive infrastructure projects forward, looking at funding structures for the optimal mix of public-private funding - and at implications of priorities announced by the Chancellor for managing national debt and cancellation of previously announced investment.
The focus of the National Wealth Fund and its strategic direction will be discussed and its potential impact on unlocking investment in green and growth industries, as well as future structures for effective partnerships, and public and private sector co-investment in new technologies - including the recent creation of Great British Energy and proposals for a new Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority.
With the National Infrastructure Commission interim report on the Cost effective delivery of infrastructure projects expected to be published later this year, we also expect discussion on the UK’s performance when compared to international peers and how discrepancies can be addressed moving forward.
We expect discussion on issues for industries that are facing the greatest infrastructure gaps, with latest thinking on key issues for the current financing model and alternative approaches.
Sessions will consider next steps for financing infrastructure in sectors such as energy and transport, and priorities in relation to improving regional connectivity and net zero targets. Taking place against the backdrop of the Rail and Urban Transport Review, which outlines suggestions for driving down the costs and timelines of transport infrastructure projects by 20% and 25% respectively, the conference will discuss practical steps needed to reform the planning and funding of projects, as well as the repurposing of money for mass transit infrastructure schemes following the cancellation of the second leg of HS2 between Birmingham and Manchester.
Strategies for unlocking investment in infrastructure to meet the Government’s target of providing clean energy by 2030 will also be assessed, including the impact of provisions in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to streamline the delivery process of critical infrastructure in order to accelerate upgrades to the National Grid.
We are pleased to be able to include keynote sessions with: Alicia Ford, Deputy Director, National Infrastructure Planning, MHCLG; Joel Kenrick, Deputy Director; Policy and Strategy, UKIB; Julia Prescot, Deputy Chair, NIC; Professor Nuno Gil, Professor of New Infrastructure Development and Director, Infrastructure Development Research Group, University of Manchester; and Julie Taylor, Director, Commercial, Regulation and Supply Chain, National Grid.
All delegates will be able to contribute, alongside key policy officials, to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. Those due to attend include officials from DBT; Defra; Department for Communities, NI; Department for the Economy, NI; DESNZ; UKIB; DfE; DfT; DSIT; EA; GLD; LocatEd; MOD; MHCLG; NAO; Ofwat; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government.
