In 2017, the UK’s Infrastructure and Projects Authority published Transforming Infrastructure Performance (TIP). The overall vision was a change programme to improve the productivity and delivery of infrastructure.

The Transforming Infrastructure Performance: Roadmap to 2030, continues on that theme with the intention to transform how government and industry work together to drive change in infrastructure performance, both in delivery and operation to boost productivity.

The roadmap to 2030, is a long-term vision setting out infrastructure interventions prioritising outcomes for society, this will be embedded in the asset lifecycle using innovative approaches and improved delivery models. This vision is essential to shifting Britain’s built environment to become more resilient, adaptive and sustainable, moving towards leading in high tech construction.

To deliver this ambitious plan, the roadmap has five focus areas:

1. Delivering new economic infrastructure to drive improved outcomes for people and nature.
2. Place-based regeneration and delivery.
3. Addressing the need for social infrastructure using a platform approach.
4. Retrofitting existing buildings to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
5. Optimising the performance of our existing built environment.

The paper was published alongside the National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline, which forecasts £650bn of investment in infrastructure over the coming decade.

The pipeline outlines 10 of the top 12 contract opportunities being road and rail projects. This includes main works contract for the Stonehenge Tunnel (£2bn) and the Lower Thames Crossing Northern Link roads contract (£2bn). These two schemes will be delivered by National Highway.

Stonehenge Tunnel Plan

The A303 is a single carriageway on the most direct route between the south east and the south west, the purpose of transforming this road at Stonehenge is to provide a solution for people who live, work and holiday in Wiltshire and the south west and to manage traffic flow on a road that does not work for drivers.

Currently, the Stonehenge scheme at the A303 is under legal challenge and upheld by the High Court judge. The scheme is being upheld on two of the ten grounds and Department for Transport is required consider its options going forward.

Lower Thames Crossing Plan

The Lower Thames Crossing would be the longest road tunnel in the UK, stretching 2.6 miles. The route would include 14.3 miles of new road connecting the M2/A2, A13 and M25.

It will pass beneath the River Thames with its southern entrance located to the east of the village of Chalk, and its northern entrance to the west of East Tilbury. On the northern section, the tunnel will pass under the East Tilbury Marshes.

More on the route of the Lower Thames Crossing can be seen here. 

“The Lower Thames Crossing is the UK’s most ambitious roads project for more than 30 years and part of the largest investment in our strategic road network in a generation.”

National Highways. 

“Delivering excellent infrastructure and the public services that we rely on every day is critical to our national progress, prosperity and well-being. Well planned and delivered projects have never been more important to the UK in driving our economy’s recovery from the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic. In setting out planned procurements, investments, and projections of the workforce required to deliver planned investment, this pipeline will support industry in making strategic and informed decisions to their long-term business and project planning.”

Nick Smallwood, Chief Executive of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority. 

The pipeline has raised some concerns, as it looks to build more roads across the country, it is believed that: 

“the investment programme makes a mockery of the government’s own ambitions, not just on climate change but also on levelling up,”

Chris Todd, Transport Action Network.

CIHT provided comments on the consultation on Major Transport Infrastructure, back in January 2021 to the Transport Select Committee. Calling for a National Transport Strategy which must include a pipeline of infrastructure investment. This will encourage business to invest in the resources needed to deliver infrastructure that is consistent with a wide range of government policy areas – equality, health, sustainability and developing a prosperous economy.

The creation of a vision and strategy would give a clear focus for the supply chain and the public as to how to plan and invest for the future.