“This infrastructure pipeline is set to make a real difference to people’s lives from quicker and easier journeys on roads and trains to providing better schools for our children, and building more hospitals in high demand areas,” says Adrian Hames, Director at WSP.
“Our society is changing, and so are our businesses, and the need to build modern and most importantly flexible infrastructure that makes use of the latest technology has never been greater. As we gear up towards Brexit, we need to find new ways to attract private investment so we get construction underway and start delivering on these transformational infrastructure if we’re to truly maintain our edge as a global leader.”
WSP calls for the following recommendations to be put in place to support the delivery of the £600 billion infrastructure pipeline:
- We need clear leadership and governance to reduce market uncertainty. This can be achieved by putting in place new mechanisms, such as a National Policy statements for Sub-National Transport bodies and associated growth corridors, and frameworks to support growth;
- The industry needs a joined-up plan for all types of infrastructure and not just for transport but also for utilities, (social) housing and job growth;
- Our infrastructure needs to be future-ready and embrace new technologies to withstand future challenges such as climate change, the rise of autonomous vehicles and an ageing population;
- And finally, the Industry and the Government must work together to deliver the infrastructure pipeline quickly for faster returns to attract much needed private investment.
Adrian Hames concludes that: “to achieve this, we need to speed up the pace of delivery by using innovative solutions and off-site manufacturing as was successfully achieved at Alder Hey Children’s Health Park where the project teams helped deliver the building 20% quicker by using pre-cast concrete slabs.”
WSP also calls for the Government and local authorities to ensure that these schools, homes, roads and trains are built with productivity in mind. The challenge remains that, despite economic growth and regulatory interventions, productivity in the UK has failed to rebound from the downturn a decade ago.
With this challenge in mind, WSP has recently published a report outlining how places that are designed and delivered with Space, Health, Accessibility, Resilience and Engagement (WSP’s SHARE approach) in mind can boost UK’s productivity and help deliver resilient infrastructure (read the full report here)
ENDS
For further information please contact PR Manager Amelie Barrau on [email protected], 07469402484
Notes to editors
About WSP
WSP is one of the world's leading engineering professional services consulting firms. We are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower. We are technical experts and strategic advisors including engineers, technicians, scientists, architects, planners, surveyors and environmental specialists, as well as other design, program and construction management professionals. We design lasting solutions in the Property & Buildings, Transportation & Infrastructure, Environment, Industry, Resources (including Mining and Oil & Gas) and Power & Energy sectors as well as project delivery and strategic consulting services.
With 7,800 talented people in the UK and more than 43,600 globally, we engineer projects that will help societies grow for lifetimes to come. WSP has been involved in many high-profile UK projects including the Shard, Crossrail, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Manchester Metrolink, M1 Smart Motorway, the re-development of London Bridge Station, and the London Olympic & Paralympic Route Network.
www.wsp.com/uk