June 2021
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This conference discussed the future of UK infrastructure investment, planning and delivery.
It followed the announced creation of a new National Infrastructure Bank and its forthcoming operation later this year, as well as a range of funding and wider measures announced in Budget 2021.
The agenda brought out latest thinking on how these developments can be directed to help tackle key challenges around connectivity, reducing regional inequalities, and protecting the environment.
We were pleased to be able to include keynote sessions with Matthew Vickerstaff, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Head, Project Finance, Infrastructure and Projects Authority and Julia Prescot, Commissioner, National Infrastructure Commission, along with contributions from AECOM; Burges Salmon; Cardiff Council; Deloitte; EDF; the Global Infrastructure Investor Association; Infracapital; Innovate UK; New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership; North East England Chamber of Commerce; The Northern Powerhouse Partnership; Palace Capital; and the University of Birmingham. The chairs were Rt Hon The Lord Butler of Brockwell and Kevin Hollinrake MP.
Overall, areas for discussion included:
- the UK’s new National Infrastructure Bank - immediate priorities for its design and development, and the scope of its powers and responsibilities
- regional inequalities - the potential role of the Bank in the Government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda, and support for regional growth and cross-region strategy and infrastructure development
- investment priorites - improving investor confidence and growing private sector investment in UK infrastructure, including for transport infrastructure and cross-nation connectivity upgrades
- the decarbonisation policy wave - opportunities for stakeholders and how the Bank can help in working towards net-zero targets and government policy ambitions for a Green Industrial Revolution
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from BEIS; the Cabinet Office; HM Treasury; the Cities & Local Growth Unit; the CCC; the CMA; Defra; DCMS; DIT; DfE, NI; the DfT; the Geospatial Commission; the Government Legal Department; HMRC; the Home Office; the Infrastructure and Projects Authority; MHCLG; the National Infrastructure Commission; the ORR; Ofwat; The Scottish Government; the Scottish National Investment Bank; UK Export Finance and the Welsh Government.
The agenda:
- Long-term approaches to UK-wide infrastructure development and opportunities for the National Infrastructure Bank to support regional funding and recovery
- Priorities for Bank design and the potential scope of powers and responsibilities - options for finance and investment models, its role at a national and local level, and learning from examples of best practice
- Growing private sector investment in UK infrastructure and how investor confidence can be improved
- Leveraging funding and investment for transport infrastructure, including cross-nation connectivity upgrades
- Regional inequalities, government policy, and investment for growth - the future scope for devolution, cross-region strategy alignment, and designing tailored solutions to social and economic challenges
- Infrastructure investment and the Government’s aims for a Green Industrial Revolution - key steps for expanding clean energy rollout, new employment opportunities, and regional leadership in green technology
- Developing and delivering a National Infrastructure Bank to support the UK’s social, environmental and economic goals
Policy officials who attended:
Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places were reserved by officials from BEIS; the Cabinet Office; the Cities & Local Growth Unit; the Climate Change Committee; the Competition and Markets Authority; Defra; the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport; the Department for International Trade; the Department for the Economy, NI; the Department for Transport; Geospatial Commission; the Government Legal Department; HM Revenue & Customs; HM Treasury; Home Office; the Infrastructure and Projects Authority; the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government; the National Infrastructure Commission; the Office of Rail and Road; Ofwat; The Scottish Government; the Scottish National Investment Bank; UK Export Finance; and the Welsh Government.
