North East industries and local authorities must work together with Government to deliver the infrastructure the region needs to compete, according to three leading engineering bodies.
A new joint report by the North East regions of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) and the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) is being sent to MPs and other influential figures, including those at the region’s Local Enterprise Partnerships.
It states: “This is a critical time for infrastructure investment and delivery. The North East needs to secure its future in a difficult economic environment.”
Progress, it adds, will be dependent upon successful collaboration between industry and government on a national and regional level, as well as the LEPs.
As well as providing greater connectivity between the North East and other parts of the UK and the rest of the world to boost regional growth, improved infrastructure will help to continue creating jobs and developing skills.
David Hodgson, regional chairman of ACE North East, said: “The North East needs joint working to deliver the required regional infrastructure improvements to compete with other parts of the UK. ACE, ICE and CECA believe that this message must be listened to by important decision makers across the region and beyond, which is why we have combined our voices to produce this report.”
Stephen Larkin, director of ICE North East, added: “North East civil engineering companies employ 50,000 people, with a strong focus placed upon skills development, not only of the existing workforce, but also within schools, colleges and universities. We are in an excellent position to grow this workforce to meet the region’s needs and boost the economy on a number of fronts, but this cannot be done without drive from regional and national decision makers. In this vein, ICE is currently preparing a regional policy document on transport to consider how to ensure that the North East gets the transport infrastructure that it really needs to support economic recovery”
Douglas Kell, director and secretary of CECA North East, said: “In November 2011, HM Treasury issued its National Infrastructure Plan, which described infrastructure networks as the ‘backbone of a modern economy’. What CECA, ACE and ICE are saying in this report is that now is the time to turn these words into action. Together, we will be speaking to stakeholders in order to help prepare the strategy and deliver the infrastructure needed to secure the economic future of the North East.”
Download 'The Importance of Infrastructure for the North East' document >>
Image (L-R): David Hodgson, ACE North East Chairman, Jason Boddy, ICE North East immediate past Chairman and Derek Ginsberg, CECA North East Chairman