UK MPs probe the importance of independent advice in major infrastructure projects

Can the UK government end the cycle of infrastructure projects going over time and over budget?

This was the question at the heart of the Treasury Select Committee’s first debate on the work of the UK’s infrastructure body, NISTA.

Questioning senior officials from the organisation, including chief executive officer Becky Wood, MPs raised concerns about its independence from the Treasury and its ability to challenge government priorities.

Committee chair Dame Meg Hillier MP also referenced the ICE’s policy and external affairs work during the session.

The ICE’s evidence to the committee set out its priorities for NISTA and progress to date, supporting its initial direction while highlighting opportunities to strengthen delivery and confidence in the 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy (10YIS).

What did MPs discuss?

The committee examined NISTA’s role a year on from the merger of the National Infrastructure Commission and Infrastructure and Projects Authority to create the new body.

The session examined whether the body can align long-term strategy with delivery and improve the UK’s record on cost overruns and delays. It looked into concerns around governance, independence, and persistent delivery challenges, alongside the role of the 10YIS and pipeline in providing greater certainty for investors and industry.

Members also explored the role of international benchmarking and spatial planning in improving performance, alongside the risk of overlooking the maintenance of existing assets in favour of “new, big, shiny” projects.

The ICE’s perspective

This debate reflected longstanding priorities on governance, planning, and asset management.

The ICE has supported the creation of NISTA and the direction set by the 10YIS. But it has consistently argued that NISTA must be an independent and authoritative voice to resist politicisation and ensure continuity in decision-making.

This is especially important in times of political and financial uncertainty.

NISTA plays an important role in engaging other political parties to ensure they understand the long-term nature of infrastructure. Wood noted that NISTA works through cross-party groups on infrastructure and project delivery to support this engagement. This includes the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure (APPG on Infrastructure), for whom the ICE is official secretariat.

The debate also focused on the value of integrating a planning system with a long-term vision and strategy. Wood discussed plans to focus on spatial planning as part of the 10YIS refresh, something that has been championed by the ICE, and underscored in international examples.

Enabling long-term strategic infrastructure planning

The success of the 10YIS will be critical to providing a stable, credible pipeline that attracts long-term investment and builds confidence across industry. The ICE will continue to support NISTA in delivering the 10YIS and its upcoming refresh alongside the 2027 Spending Review, ensuring it translates into real-world outcomes.

This will require long-term, cross-party support, adequate resourcing, and a clear mandate for NISTA to work across government.

Alongside this, the ICE has emphasised the importance of public engagement. People should understand the benefits of infrastructure investment, while decision-makers should understand the needs of infrastructure users.

Done well, this approach will not only improve delivery, but build public trust in the institutions that plan and deliver the infrastructure services they depend on.