ICE State of the Nation Infrastructure 2010 – an assessment of the region’s infrastructure - was launched on 16th June. The report is compiled by panels drawn from the various fields of expertise across ICE’s membership. The State of the Nation presents an authoritative commentary and grading of the region's infrastructure and its fitness for purpose.
The East Midland’s energy sector and local transport networks have fared the worst in an appraisal of the region’s infrastructure. The report highlights that the region must urgently address the sustainability of its core infrastructure to reduce carbon emissions and achieve a low carbon society.
The report scored the regions water, waste, transport, flood and energy systems against the wider backdrop of public spending cuts, the urgent need to shift to a low carbon society and a recovering economy. Existing infrastructure was appraised on general condition, capacity, resilience and sustainability. An overall grade was given for each: A: fit for future; B: adequate for now; C: requires attention; D: at risk or E: not fit for purpose.
Energy and transport systems fared the worst, both being rated as a ‘C’, requiring attention. These results were consistent with the national assessment which also found energy and local transport systems to be most at risk, both graded as ‘D’s.
East Midlands is a net exporter of electricity and the generation and supply chain contribute significantly to its economy. However it is largely reliant on several large scale coal and gas fired power plants, which is compromising the region’s ability to shift to a low carbon society. With coal fired power plants set to come offline in 2015 unless they can meet stringent carbon emissions criteria, there must be an immediate focus on up scaling renewable sources of energy to meet the region’s environmental goals and protect the local economy. At present East Midlands lags behind other regions in terms of renewable energy, accounting for only two percent of the region’s energy capacity.
The regions inter-urban and local transport networks also require urgent attention. Two key priorities emerged from the evidence – the need to tackle congestion in several key areas, particularly during peak times in the Nottingham, Derby and Leicester conurbations, as well as the environmental impact. Reducing carbon emissions across the board by introducing some form of demand management on the road network and improving public transport capacity across the region to reduce over-reliance on private car travel is crucial.
Regional sectors in a snapshot:
Water and wastewater (B): Waste and wastewater infrastructure in the East midlands is assessed to be in a ‘fair’ state. However, there is a need for the regulatory drivers to change to account for long term issues such as sustainability. Behavioural change is also required to reduce demand and therefore emissions.
Flood risk management (B): River and coastal flood defence infrastructure is considered to be in a fair condition, with several projects underway or recently completed and other proposals in the pipeline.
Waste (B): Work towards making East Midlands a zero waste region by 2020 is encouraging. ICE recommends waste to be viewed as a resource with potential to contribute to the economy and efficiency of the region. The amount of waste generated overall and that going to landfill must be reduced to reduce the sector’s carbon footprint.
The East Midlands report is part of a national assessment which found the UK’s infrastructure to be in poor condition overall (C grade) and warned the new Government it has very little time to act if we are to have sustainable, working water, waste, energy and transport networks in the future.
You can download the full East Midlands briefing sheet of National report at ice.org.uk/stateofthenation