How strategic planning can help unlock the potential of infrastructure

At its most basic definition, infrastructure is built to fulfil a need.

But it can do so much more than that. It just takes some clever, strategic planning to maximise the benefits.

Planning projects strategically

Planning can differ by infrastructure project and by country.

Below are a couple of examples where strategic planning helped meet multiple needs:

1. CopenHill

With 2050 coming closer and closer, countries around the world are working hard on reducing their carbon emissions so they can reach net zero.

One of the key sectors to decarbonise is energy. Denmark has thought of a clever way to do this and provide thrill-seeking citizens of Copenhagen with a place to enjoy their hobbies.

CopenHill is a waste-to-energy power plant that can transform 440,000 tonnes of waste into clean energy every year. This provides electricity and district heating for 150,000 homes.

But on top of the plant lies a multimodal sports centre where you can practice skiing, sledding, hiking, climbing, and other kinds of mountain-related activities.

It not only helps Denmark on its path to net zero, but it offers a space for recreation, which has huge mental and physical health benefits.

2. Tideway Tunnel

Speaking of waste, London produces a lot of it. But thanks to the recently completed Tideway Tunnel, 95% of sewage currently entering the River Thames will now be diverted.

The tunnel, expected to be fully operational in 2025, will also significantly reduce the amount of sewage-derived litter coming into the Thames.

Beyond providing a cleaner river, the team behind the project wanted to reconnect Londoners with the river.

To do this, the team is creating 1.2ha of public space – as big as Trafalgar Square!

New embankments will offer spaces to enjoy the river, and some of their foreshores will be floodable at high tide, so people can dip their toes on a hot day.

Biodiverse roofs feature on surface-level structures (like ventilation shafts) to benefit creatures small and large.

For people, these help to reduce surface water runoff. And for small critters, it will provide more than 750m2 of natural habitat. The team even calls a kiosk in Barn Elms a bug hotel!

Using infrastructure projects to deliver on priority needs

None of the projects listed above exist in isolation.

They are all part of an infrastructure network that depends on each asset working correctly.

That is why strategically setting a vision for infrastructure is so important.

Creating a long-term strategy for infrastructure can help governments respond to all infrastructure service needs.

It can even be translated into policy and regulation to further prioritise projects.

Planning strategically for the long term

The Enabling Better Infrastructure (EBI) programme helps do just that.

EBI guides governments to find a good starting point and think about their country needs both now and in the future.

Having a strategic plan for infrastructure not only allows countries to understand how they will address their needs; it also unlocks a cycle of benefits, as pictured below:

This is exactly what New Zealand is doing with their ambitious plan for infrastructure.

The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission (NZIC) has taken steps to create an infrastructure plan and policy tools to help them build an infrastructure pipeline. This will improve project planning, coordination, and delivery.

Planning infrastructure strategically will help New Zealand to unlock a virtuous cycle of benefits. Such as, improving public confidence by being more transparent and making project delivery more efficient.

This ensures that New Zealand addresses long-term needs for infrastructure over the next 30 years and can also remain flexible and adapt to any changes along the way.

Working strategically

Planning strategically is an efficient way to address short- and long-term needs at the same time.

Being strategic when planning projects can address infrastructure needs and offer other, upfront benefits, such as a drop in carbon emissions and cleaner water.

Engaging in strategic planning at a country level enables governments to address current and future needs, unlocking a longer-lasting cycle of benefits, as detailed above.

Together, planning infrastructure strategically can help governments deliver infrastructure now but ensure that needs are met long-term.