CBI: UK on verge of infrastructure golden age

The Head of the CBI, Carolyn Fairbairn, has told the National Infrastructure Forum that the UK has the opportunity to unlock a boom in infrastructure building not seen since the Victorian era.

Ms Fairbairn urged the government not to take its foot off the pedal and to get on with building the projects it has already announced.

The CBI backed the government’s pre-election commitments on the strategic importance of infrastructure and has urged the government to ramp up its efforts to tackle the shortage of new homes being built.

Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI Director-General, said: “The government knows infrastructure matters. In the last parliament, we saw decisions on Heathrow, Hinkley and HS2. Now we need to take it up a gear – we need action and not more words. Delivery and not delay.”

Maintaining access to overseas skilled labour was also crucial to ensuring investment in infrastructure entered the UK and in turn boosting public confidence levels in the project.

Ms Fairbairn said the political upheaval provided a “once in a generation opportunity to transform the infrastructure backbone of our country in ways not seen since Victoria was on the throne.”

She claimed that by pursuing the correct course of action now, the benefits would felt both in the short term and in the future.

“Infrastructure renewal is one of the biggest opportunities we have. If we get it right, the benefits to society are incalculable. In the short run, an economy that will be humming. In the longer run, new homes for people, easier journeys to work, better public services, a stronger economy.

“For us to find the best solutions, we need a new partnership between business and government. Let’s make the partnership the best in the world, making the UK the most competitive and prosperous economy anywhere in the world.”

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