After an unexpected summer election, Keir Starmer’s Labour Party won a comprehensive victory. The new government is now expected to meet a series of defining challenges affecting the UK’s infrastructure. Labour’s victory provides them with a mandate for “change” – a message at the heart of its election campaign. But what will change mean for infrastructure?
The challenges include improving transport services, reforming the planning system and unlocking clean energy. The new government will also be responsible for meeting some important milestones for the country’s infrastructure and ensuring the UK stays on course to meet long term goals, like the 2050 net zero target.
Many of the government’s promises will require new legislation. At the time of writing, the King’s speech has yet to happen, but the ICE policy team is primed for announcements on energy and rail reform.
However, not all reforms will require legislation. The new government has already overturned a de facto ban on onshore wind by simply removing two footnotes from the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
The ICE has long advocated prioritising public engagement and enabling behaviour change to help the public reduce their emissions and focusing on longer term strategic planning. To provide the public with the infrastructure it needs, more detailed, future-looking plans for investment are essential.
The new government has already overturned a de facto ban on onshore wind by simply removing two footnotes from the National Planning Policy Framework
Businesses and communities that rely on infrastructure services need certainty to ensure investment goes further and to support necessary economic growth. Growth is one of Labour’s five key missions for government and infrastructure will help support economic activity and unlock investment.
Here is what the ICE policy team is expecting in key sectors over the coming weeks.
The government plans to renationalise the railways, establishing Great British Railways, while former Network Rail chief and ICE Fellow Lord Hendy has been appointed minister of state for transport, enabling him to support future transport reforms.
The ICE has previously called for a national transport strategy for England to clarify long term plans for transport and align investment with wider strategic goals.
Labour has focused on pushing forward planning reform, with chancellor Rachel Reeves pledging to “get Britain building again”. The NPPF is due to be overhauled and large windfarms will be designated as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. The new government is also focused on water company accountability, ensuring that they are investing in and improving water infrastructure systems. New environment secretary Steve Reed has supported tighter regulation of sewage discharged by water companies, but further reform and a longer term vision for water are required.
The ICE policy and external affairs team will dig deeper into this subject in an upcoming consultation on water sector reform. The ICE works closely with decision-makers in government. It will be engaging with ministers on its priorities for the next UK government over the coming weeks.
As a professional engineering institution with a public duty, the ICE serves governments and decision-makers at all levels as an independent, impartial advisor on infrastructure policy.
As well as working with new ministers and ministerial teams, the ICE will continue to engage with opposition and industry leaders to ensure informed debate, discussion and progress.
- Send Lighthouse comments to policy@ice.org.uk
Like what you’ve read? To receive New Civil Engineer’s daily and weekly newsletters click here.