A new report from the Council on Geostrategy’s Caudwell Strong Britain programme has found that the UK is falling behind our European counterparts on infrastructure delivery
National objectives of securing economic growth and energy security are being impeded by an infrastructure delivery backlog, according to new research from the Council on Geostrategy.
The research finds Britain is struggling to build the major infrastructure projects it needs to achieve growth and prosperity. Examples cited include the Elizabeth Line, which was four years late and £4bn over budget, and the Lower Thames Crossing, currently two years delayed and at least £3.5bn over budget.
Alongside others, these projects are too slow and bureaucratic, risking the delivery of essential policies, such as Net Zero and economic regeneration.
The UK’s motorway system is also far behind peer nations across Europe, regardless of the metric used – whether kilometres (km) of motorway by population or land area.
| Country | In terms of km of motorway per 100,000 people: | In terms of km of motorway per 100,000 km of land area: |
| Spain | 35.6 | 3.4 |
| Portugal | 29.4 | 3.4 |
| France | 17.4 | 2.2 |
| Germany | 15.8 | 3.7 |
| Italy | 11.9 | 2.3 |
| UK | 5.4 | 1.5 |
Bureaucracy, delays and legal challenges all impact the planning process
The problems come partly from an ineffective planning system. Delays and bureaucracy are the main issues with the process, impacting project viability and national timelines for essential policy ambitions. Legal challenges also prevent effective delivery.
The report notes judicial review affects around 58% of all infrastructure projects in recent times, compared to a historical average of 10%. This forces developers into prolonged consultation before applications and providing excessive documentation to mitigate the risk of legal challenge.
Alongside the planning system, there are also interconnected challenges of policy instability, high industrial electricity costs and a shortage of construction workers.
Recommended policy changes to reduce the infrastructure backlog include:
- Establish statutory consultations with strict deadlines to avoid lengthy and costly processes
- Create bold targets for physical and digital connectivity to link up major economic and data centres
- Carry out regular international benchmarking to identify underperformance
- Conduct audits of construction mineral supply to ensure the building of major projects and housing.
The report calls urgently for change, going on to say: “The UK’s infrastructure standing has fallen in recent years. Addressing the challenges facing infrastructure development is a must. The recommendations listed above can help Britain build the infrastructure it needs to develop national prosperity and economic growth.”
Dr Mann Virdee, senior research Fellow (Science, Technology and Economics) at the Council on Geostrategy, said:
‘Britain faces deeply entrenched barriers to delivering the infrastructure it needs for the 21st century. A failure to address this will impact UK economic growth, productivity, regional equality and the transition to Net Zero, as well as the nation’s overall competitiveness, security and prosperity.
‘The planning system is a primary culprit, characterised by excessive complexity and bureaucracy. However, the challenges extend beyond planning – include policy instability and volatile funding, high industrial electricity costs and a shortage of construction workers.
‘These barriers are interconnected, creating a cycle of inertia which is difficult to break. Simplifying planning, having long-term policy and funding certainty, fostering technological innovation and strengthening delivery capacity can all help to unlock Britain’s ability to generate growth and prosperity through major infrastructure.’
You can read the research in full here.
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