Sir John Armitt and Lord Heseltine are among seven names charged with taking forward the work of Government’s new National Infrastructure Commission.

 

Their appointments as commissioners were confirmed by Chancellor George Osborne last Thursday as he formally launched the National Infrastructure Commission at an event at the National Railway Museum in York.

 

It is a busy week for Sir John Armitt, pictured, who today was named President of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

 

The Chancellor also used last week's event to commit £100Bn of spending in this Parliament for major infrastructure projects including new roads and railways and confirmed full funding of the £15Bn Roads Investment Strategy.

 

Mr Osborne said the National Infrastructure Commission will give “a long term, unbiased analysis of the country’s major infrastructure needs” and added that he is “determined to shake Britain out of its inertia on infrastructure and end the situation where we trail our rivals when it comes to building”.

 

Sir John Armitt is the former chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority and currently chairs National Express Group.

 

Former Conservative Deputy Prime Minister Lord Heseltine is described as a long standing champion of inner city regeneration using infrastructure investment. Two years ago he published a review into economic growth titled ‘No stone unturned’.

 

The five other commissioners named last week are architect Sadie Morgan, who chairs High Speed 2’s design panel, former Bank of England monetary policy committee member Professor Tim Besley, neuroscientist Demis Hassabis, former chief economic advisor to the Greater London Authority Bridget Rosewell and chairman of the Victoria & Albert Museum Sir Paul Ruddock. 

 

The National Infrastructure Commission is chaired by Labour’s former Transport Secretary Lord Adonis and will produce a report at the start of each Parliament, offering recommendations for priority infrastructure projects. The initial focus for the Commission will cover northern transport connectivity, London’s transport system and the energy market.