Member Article

ICE North East pens Northern Powerhouse infrastructure recommendations

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) North East has called for a clear strategy on the delivery of high-performing infrastructure that will unlock the North’s potential, following its publication of ICE’s Delivering a Northern Infrastructure Strategy.

The report, which was co-ordinated by ICE and delivered by an expert steering group comprised of engineers, businesses and local government organisations from across the North, also highlights the need to align this strategy alongside regional co-ordination and an ambitious investment programme.

The strategy will today be given to the metro mayors for each Northern area, including Ben Houchen, Mayor of Tees Valley, as well as Steve Rotherham, Mayor of Liverpool, and Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.

Recommendations

In the report, ICE recommends:

1. The creation of a Council of the North with representation of LEPs alongside metro mayors and leaders of local authorities to oversee the delivery of the Northern Powerhouse vision.

2. A northern infrastructure strategy to ensure the North’s balanced growth and improved productivity.

3. A northern spatial plan to guide and co-ordinate integrated infrastructure development.

4. The provision of coordinated lifelong learning and development to ensure the North has the future skills required by employers and to deliver its infrastructure investment programme.

5. To kick-start the North’s economic resurgence, central Government should immediately increase the level of infrastructure investment and empower Transport for the North to determine transport investment priorities.

6. So the North can, over time, fund growth from its own resources, central Government should devolve sufficient revenue raising and borrowing powers.

7. The North must adopt a more proactive and ambitious approach to encouraging private investment.

9. The North should fully develop its specialisations in renewables and new energy technologies to maintain its position as the country’s energy powerhouse.

10. Transport for the North must develop programmes that enhance network integration and connectivity, enable economic development and ensure that the region is ready for the arrival of HS2.

11. Transport for the North should champion the adoption of new technologies in both passenger and freight transport, including the digital railway, autonomous vehicles and mobility as a service.

12. The North must acquire and maintain best in class digital infrastructure with complete geographic coverage to unlock economic growth and enhance the delivery of infrastructure services across the region.

13. To address the North’s housing shortage local authorities should put in place standard approaches to assessing need and have access to flexible funding arrangements for new developments.

Reaction

ICE North East regional director Penny Marshall said: “This report and the recommendations included are aimed at helping the Northern Powerhouse become not just a national success story but a global leader in economic productivity and quality of life.

“High performing infrastructure is one of the most important elements in providing the foundations for economic prosperity.

“Using local knowledge and local expertise ICE’s report and recommendations offer ways to help deliver an infrastructure with the capacity to increase productivity in the region.”

Chair of the ICE Northern Powerhouse steering group, Richard Threlfall of KPMG said: “My vision for the Northern Powerhouse is a region that has the ambition, the confidence and the capability to wield both economic power and presence on the world stage.

“We need to take control of our own destiny, set up the institutions to co-ordinate a one-North approach and invest in best in class infrastructure and skills.

“The North was once the Powerhouse of the World. It can be again. But only if we believe in it and work together to make it happen.”