Institution of Civil Engineers responds to the calls made to government by Sir John Armitt, chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, to build a shared vision for infrastructure.
Chris Richards, Head of Policy and Public Affairs for the Institution of Civil Engineers, said:
"Sir John Armitt outlined a robust call to arms today, the government should likewise set out a clear response to the challenges outlined in the National Infrastructure Assessment, including which recommendations will be taken forward, later this year. The Assessment was a cohesive research effort into the UK's future infrastructure requirements and built on ICE's own National Needs Assessment of long-term infrastructure priorities.
"Infrastructure is the glue that brings local, regional and national economies together. Right across the country, the public is looking to politicians to back the infrastructure they need and speak loudly about the benefits of improving living standards. While it may be tempting to deprioritise taking a decision on long-term infrastructure investment, such a decision still carries a cost in terms of missed benefits. All political parties must therefore ensure they rely on the expert, impartial and evidence-led advice being provided by the National Infrastructure Commission as the foundation for their own approaches to infrastructure."