Government Publishes National Infrastructure Plan 2014

The Government has today published its eagerly anticipated National Infrastructure Plan 2014 (NIP). The NIP, which builds on the existing infrastructure programme as set out in the National Infrastructure Plan 2010, sets out an ambitious programme of new UK infrastructure projects as well as outlining improvements for the delivery of infrastructure projects which are already in construction. The effect of the NIP is to create an overall infrastructure pipeline for the UK which is worth over £460bn of public and private investment, with the aim of delivering the long-term infrastructure required to satisfy the UK's growth needs and to remain a leading and competitive global economy.

Key new announcements in the NIP include:

£15bn investment in the UK's strategic road network; £2.3bn of flood defence investment; £38bn of national rail network investment; scoping for a potential £1bn power-generating tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay; and targeted investment in science, ports, aviation, waste and social infrastructure. The Government has also announced a range of measures which aim to address some of the factors which have historically contributed to delays and cost overruns on a number of projects, and help to drive efficiencies going forward. These include compulsory purchase order reforms which aim to bring forward more brownfield land for development, speeding up section 106 negotiations, and measures to ensure that the principle of development only needs to be established once.

The NIP also...