CEA’s infrastructure suggestion to UK Government

A letter by the Construction Equipment Association (CEA) to the UK Government highlights the need for infrastructure investment. According to the letter, the UK does not have a good track record of identifying, planning and delivering major infrastructure projects. It says that infrastructure to support growth is identified too late and a protracted decision-making process has led to policy reversals in key areas such as energy and transport. The CEA makes clear the need to end such a short-term, damaging c
July 22, 2014 Read time: 2 mins

A letter by the 3418 Construction Equipment Association (CEA) to the UK Government highlights the need for infrastructure investment. According to the letter, the UK does not have a good track record of identifying, planning and delivering major infrastructure projects. It says that infrastructure to support growth is identified too late and a protracted decision-making process has led to policy reversals in key areas such as energy and transport. The CEA makes clear the need to end such a short-term, damaging culture, as it undermines business investment in Britain.

With capacity constraints looming, recent governments have sought to address how projects are delivered. The CEA argues that the UK does not, however, have the necessary structures in place to anticipate the infrastructure that will be needed in the future. The forthcoming manifestos of the main political parties must address this failure as forever playing catch up does not support sustainable growth.

The UK needs a permanent, independent body tasked with looking at the country’s future infrastructure requirements. This body would provide a trusted process through which political parties, the public, employers, unions and other stakeholders could propose potential solutions. It would also enable these proposals to be thoroughly assessed and analysed on a level, non-political, playing field.

In developing its work, such a body must be accountable to Parliament, not to Government, in order to provide it with the independence necessary to produce impartial analysis. Crucially however, the final decision on projects can only be taken by the Government of the day.

It was co-signed by Terry Scuoler, chief executive, EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation; Adam Marshall, executive director – Policy, British Chambers of Commerce; Frances O’Grady, general secretary, TUC; 4755 John Holland-Kaye, chief executive, Heathrow Airport; Steven Costello, Director, Heathrow Hub; Stewart Wingate, chief executive, Gatwick Airport;  Paul Kehoe, chief executive, Birmingham Airport; Darren Caplan, chief executive, Airport Operators Association; Geoff Dunning, chief executive, Road Haulage Association; Stephen Tetlow, chief executive, Institution of Mechanical Engineers; Rob Oliver, chief executive, Construction Equipment Association; Graeme Philp, chief executive, GAMBICA; Stuart Fell, chairman, Metal Assemblies; Steve McQuillan, chief executive, Avingtrans; Colin Thornton, managing director, AIM Aviation

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