Morning, Monday, 22nd September 2025
Online
This conference focuses on the future for major infrastructure funding in England - alongside next steps for infrastructure delivery, and addressing long-term barriers, including planning, governance and coordination issues, investor uncertainty, and disparities in local and regional capacity and funding.
Policy and regulation
It will be an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to examine key policy developments aimed at strengthening long-term infrastructure delivery, including the introduction of multi-year capital budgets in the 2024 Autumn Budget and a further uplift in the overall capital envelope. This includes a five-year rolling capital framework worth an additional £100bn and a £725bn commitment set out in the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy, covering both economic and social infrastructure. Delegates will assess implications of the 2025 Spending Review and the Infrastructure Strategy more widely, including commitments to expand the public infrastructure pipeline, strengthen regional transport and public estate investment, and support wider use of private finance through clearer delivery models.
The conference will discuss how measures set out in the strategy and Spending Review - alongside reforms to planning, regulation and financial oversight - can be implemented to improve predictability, attract long-term capital, and support better alignment between national priorities and delivery on the ground. Discussion will also consider delivery risk, with the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority recently rating £200bn of projects as unachievable under current plans. We expect discussion to draw on recent findings on the need for credible pipelines, improved procurement and risk-sharing, capital markets reform, and strengthened commercial capability within public bodies. How infrastructure can best be targeted to support priority industries and strategic ambitions outlined in the recently published Industrial Strategy will also be considered.
Finance models, institutional investment and partnership structures
Sessions will assess models of finance and delivery under review by government and regulators, including public-private partnerships and hybrid approaches such as the Regulated Asset Base. Priorities for new forms of collaboration between the public and private sectors will be discussed in the context of long-term infrastructure delivery, economic growth and decarbonisation. Attendees will also assess proposals in the Pension Schemes Bill and Mansion House Accord, including consolidation of smaller pension pots and steps to increase institutional investment through more transparent valuation frameworks and enhanced commercial capability within scheme governance.
Institutional coordination, the role of digital tools and public investment bodies
The agenda also examines priorities for the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority, including coordination with delivery partners and finance bodies, development of strategic pipelines, and cross-government planning. Delegates will assess how digital tools such as the national infrastructure spatial platform and pipeline portal might provide greater investor and project certainty, and their role in supporting access for smaller firms. The evolving contribution of public financial institutions and regulators will also be explored, including allocation priorities for the National Wealth Fund and British Business Bank, their role in supporting capital delivery and Public-Private Partnerships, and options for closer collaboration with local government.
Regional planning, Private Finance Initiative expiry and local delivery leadership
Further sessions will focus on institutional capacity and delivery leadership at regional and local level. Sessions will look at required reforms to the consenting process, with the recently announced Consultation on streamlining infrastructure planning aiming to speed up delivery of nationally significant projects, as well as the introduction of place-based business cases, and spatial planning powers. Discussion is expected on the impact of devolved powers on infrastructure funding, delivery and oversight, the expansion of integrated funding settlements, regional leadership in supporting growth clusters, as well as local government reorganisation and the Fair Funding Review. Delegates will also consider lessons from earlier schemes, implications of contract expiry and handback, and how future models can embed social value and support service innovation. Additional areas for discussion include procurement reform, commercial capability, and longer-term funding and policy stability.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those due to attend include officials from the Cabinet Office; Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; Department for Business and Trade; Department for Science, Innovation and Trade; Department for Transport; HM Treasury; National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority; Office of Rail and Road; Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, ROI; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
