Type: Policy

ICE insights into the use of low- or no-build solutions in strategic infrastructure planning

Date: 04 November 2024

This paper outlines how countries have used alternative approaches to provide infrastructure services while delivering benefits for people and planet.

Low- or no-build solutions offer an alternative approach for delivering much-needed infrastructure services to meet people’s needs.

This includes nature-based solutions (e.g. artificial wetlands), sharing assets (e.g. fixed communications infrastructure in telecoms), repurposing infrastructure (e.g. roads), and changing user behaviours (e.g. airport redesign).

While their benefits are well known at the project scale, less is known about how they can be incorporated into planning at the country scale, where they’d form part of a long-term strategic approach.

This insights paper outlines how six countries have rolled out low- or no-build solutions to meet their infrastructure needs now and into the future.

The following learnings have been identified:

Focus on infrastructure service needs first, then explore options for delivering on them. This can draw on conventional and low- or no-build solutions.
Make it mandatory to outline ‘do minimum’ options when proposing infrastructure projects.
Set aside funding and financing for low- or no-build specific interventions, e.g. nature-based solutions.
Incentivise mutually beneficial partnerships for sharing infrastructure, e.g. in the telecoms industry.