FTA says new infrastructure plan is positive move

Association welcomes Government’s co-ordinated and comprehensive approach to infrastructure planning

THE Government’s newly announced National Infrastructure Delivery Plan has been welcomed by the Freight Transport Association (FTA) as a co-ordinated and comprehensive approach to future infrastructure planning.

The plan, which brings together all the Government’s infrastructure priorities for the next five years, including its commitment to build a Northern Powerhouse connecting major towns and cities in the North, highlights more than £425 billion of planned investment in 600 major projects to 2021 and beyond.

Karen Dee, the FTA’s director of policy, said: ‘The Government is right to put so much emphasis on infrastructure – these networks are crucial to delivering economic growth. Transport improvements represent a large proportion of the projects, which is vital for a trading nation that relies on the movement of goods and services.’

The plan sets out a major road and rail investment package including £15 billion to support Highways England in transforming the Strategic Road Network and support for the biggest rail modernization since Victorian times.

Miss Dee (pictured) continued: ‘Given the unprecedented levels of government and private sector funds being made available, it is essential to ensure efficient and effective delivery of projects.

‘The National Infrastructure Delivery Plan is a welcome development as it presents a co-ordinated and comprehensive view of what needs to be delivered over the next few years and establishes a process for identifying what comes next.’