Skip to main content

Speed up pace of infrastructure action, say two thirds of businesses

The majority of businesses (62 per cent) are concerned with the pace of progress on the delivery of infrastructure projects, and over half (53 per cent) believe they won’t see necessary upgrades in the next five years, according to the 2015 CBI/AECOM Infrastructure Survey. With 94 per cent of the 722 firms surveyed saying the quality of infrastructure is a key deciding factor in planning their investments, CBI/AECOM believe there is clear consensus on the need to speed up the delivery of projects crucia
October 29, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
The majority of businesses (62 per cent) are concerned with the pace of progress on the delivery of infrastructure projects, and over half (53 per cent) believe they won’t see necessary upgrades in the next five years, according to the 2015 CBI/AECOM Infrastructure Survey.

With 94 per cent of the 722 firms surveyed saying the quality of infrastructure is a key deciding factor in planning their investments, CBI/AECOM  believe there is clear consensus on the need to speed up the delivery of projects crucial to the British economy in this Parliament and to reverse decades of underinvestment and policy change.

Momentum has been building in the last five years. Business has been encouraged by the Government’s moves, such as the creation of the National Infrastructure Commission and the use of Government guarantees to boost investment. Indeed, now, twice as many firms (43 per cent of all businesses and 49 per cent of infrastructure providers) see UK infrastructure improving instead of deteriorating (23 per cent). Devolution has also been greeted with optimism, with 61 per cent of firms believing it will improve delivery of local infrastructure, rising to 73 per cent among English companies.

CBI/AECOM say US$627 billion-worth of infrastructure upgrades, fundamental to the UK’s future, need to be delivered. These include a new runway in the South East (important to 91 per cent of firms), upgrades to the rail network (45 per cent of firms want spending increased), and investment in a diverse, secure energy mix (vital to 97 per cent of firms).

For these projects to be delivered this Parliament, Britain’s business group CBI and the global infrastructure services firm AECOM want to see the Government tackle the thorny issues and create a business environment primed to support delivery from conception to completion.

Related Content

  • Highways Agency chief executive to step down
    January 29, 2015
    The Chief Executive of the Highways Agency (HA), Graham Dalton, announced today that he is leaving his post in the summer. During his seven years in post Graham has led the agency through a time of financial constraint and of growing ambition for the strategic road network. He has led the agency as it has established a strong reputation for efficiency, for delivering capital investment, and for operating one of the most intensively used road networks in Europe. Graham Dalton said: “It has been a priv
  • UK Spending Review ‘increases capital investment in transport by 50%’
    November 26, 2015
    UK Chancellor George Osborne announced major investments in transport in the government’s Spending Review and Autumn Statement, despite a 37 per cent cut in the Department for Transport’s (DfT) operational budget. This was offset with a planned 50% per cent increase in capital expenditure for the DfT - rising to a total of US$92 billion. In addition to protecting overall police spending in line with inflation, an increase of US$1.3 billion by 2019-20, the review includes US$70 billion capital investment
  • Diesel ban needs action plan, says transport group
    September 3, 2020
    Financial package also required to enable households and businesses make EV switch
  • UK Government Air Quality Plan – call for funding for FCEVs
    July 27, 2017
    Following the release of the UK Government’s final Air Quality Plan, in which it announced that it will ban all petrol and diesel vehicles (including hybrids) from 2040, ITM Power says this represents an historic first step towards cleaner and greener transport in the UK. However, it is calling on the UK Government to provide equivalent financial support for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) infrastructure as it has already provided for plug-in battery electric vehicle (BEV) infrastructure. The company, wh