Budget speech shows continued commitment to infrastructure

Today’s Budget announcement from the chancellor Rachel Reeves has underlined the government’s commitment to infrastructure investment and improving delivery through streamlining the planning system.

Rachel Ellison, managing director for advisory and programme delivery for UK and Europe at Mott MacDonald, has responded to the announcements: “The chancellor has shown continued support for infrastructure in her Budget. The certainty that this creates is essential to enable businesses to confidently invest in order to realise the ambitions set out earlier this year in the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy.

“Announcements today about the private funding approach to projects such as Lower Thames Crossing and Heathrow give even greater clarity – both for project pipelines and on how the government intends to fund its planned infrastructure investment. The funding piece is essential as delays to major programmes of work affect the ability of our industry to deliver efficiently and attract and retain people into the sector, too.”

Transport investment

Responding to the announcement of an extension to the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and Heathrow expansion yesterday, Mott MacDonald managing director for transport in UK and Europe Ken Norbury said: “The DLR extension to Thamesmead investment will unlock thousands of homes and jobs and create public transport connectivity for one of London’s most underserved areas. We’ve been part of the DLR story since its inception and are already supporting this extension through land referencing for the Transport and Works Act Order and extensive environmental surveys.  

“The government’s decision to select Heathrow’s privately financed third runway plan also demonstrates how private investment can deliver transformative national infrastructure. Like the DLR investment, the scheme will provide a gateway to growth; creating thousands of jobs and supply chain opportunities for local communities, while unlocking trade, tourism and investment that strengthens the UK economy. We are proud of our decades-long partnership with Heathrow and look forward to supporting its expansion. 

“In a similar way, Northern Powerhouse Rail is essential to unlocking the North’s potential, connecting city regions, reducing journey times and creating the capacity needed for growth. We welcome the government’s recognition of how critical improved connectivity is and look forward to hearing more in the coming months on how this project will be taken forward.” 

Regeneration driver

Mott MacDonald managing director for buildings in UK and Europe Mark Ewen acknowledged that pledges to remove planning blockages around major transport hubs would also benefit other projects. He added: “Investment in urban regeneration schemes, new neighbourhood health centres and education facilities will help catalyse large-scale urban regeneration projects up and down the country. 

“We’re seeing clients leading the charge in this space, with Places for London, the TfL Property Company and Network Rail’s newly formed Platform4 bringing forward ambitious and progressive schemes on underutilised land. Alongside the work of private sector developers and local authority leaders, the focus on pace of delivery in today’s budget is welcome to help drive forward investment in vibrant and sustainable places for people and communities.” 

Planning resources

Mott MacDonald technical director for town planning Sarah Henderson responded to the news that planning reforms will be backed by further funding: “The announcement of £48M for local authorities to recruit 350 new planners is vital to the implementation of a streamlined planning system. The new Planning Careers Hub should improve retention and create new routes into the sector. This will reduce the skills gap that currently exist in delivering critical infrastructure projects.

“However, other regulators, such as the Environment Agency, also need to be resourced sufficiently to ensure that they are equipped to make their contribution to consenting regimes efficiently.”

Nuclear focus

Commenting on the nuclear announcements, Mott MacDonald development director for energy Clare Rhodes-James said: “The commitment to nuclear and renewables sends a positive message. It was vital for the nuclear sector that the chancellor confirmed a response to the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce within three months. The recommendations have the potential to significantly reduce costs and uncertainty, while maintaining a strong safety focus, that will be critical to delivering clean power to meet net zero targets.”