Media statement: ADEPT welcomes publication of National Infrastructure Strategy
Angela Jones, President of ADEPT, said:
"ADEPT welcomes the publication of the National Infrastructure Strategy, which provides much needed clarity on the government's long-term vision for addressing the UK's infrastructure challenges. The strategy comes at a critical time when local authorities are grappling with a mounting infrastructure crisis.
“In particular, we welcome the government's new approach to funding, which promises long-term certainty of five years. This commitment will enable local authorities to move away from the cycle of emergency repairs and adopt a more strategic, preventative approach to infrastructure management – ultimately delivering better value and more reliable services for communities.
“Local authorities have been dealing with the consequences of decades of underinvestment while simultaneously facing new pressures from more frequent flooding, heat damage and severe weather.
“The strategy's recognition of these climate resilience challenges is particularly important as we work to futureproof our networks. The commitment to flood resilience through the 10 year flood defence investment programme will be crucial in breaking the reactive cycle of emergency repairs and building long-term resilience into our infrastructure.
"The announcement of £1 billion for road structures through the new Structures Fund was a welcome step in addressing critical road maintenance needs, but it highlights the scale of investment required across all infrastructure assets.
"We also welcome the strategy's recognition that delivering 1.5 million new homes requires coordinated infrastructure investment across transport, utilities, and digital connectivity – areas where local authorities play a vital delivery role.
“We look forward to reading the new Infrastructure Pipeline in July to understand the further detail of how this ambitious strategy will be implemented."
