Why can the Faroe Islands build faster than Britain? Opinion The Faroe Islands has built miles of undersea tunnels for less than a third of what Britain has spent on a consultation for one, says Joe Cawley Every day, tens of thousands of vehicles crawl across the Dartford Crossing, one of the UK’s key economic arteries. Relief is on the way. Work has begun on the Lower [...]
Hercules PLC: Powering Britain’s infrastructure ambitions Partner The UK stands on the cusp of an unprecedented infrastructure revolution. With governmental commitments indicating significant investment (plans previously cited at £700bn-£750bn), the nation is poised to transform its transport networks, energy systems, and digital infrastructure. This undertaking will not only require capital but also a large, skilled workforce that can adapt to the nation’s [...]
In a stormy world, the UK can pitch itself as a safe harbour for investment Opinion The stormy economic outlook overseas creates an opportunity for the UK to act as a safe harbour for investment, writes Chris Hayward.
Government approves Lower Thames Crossing March 25, 2025 Ministers have given the go-ahead to the £10bn Lower Thames Crossing road tunnel, one of the most expensive infrastructure projects in UK history. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander approved the development consent order (DCO) for the scheme on Tuesday. It will be funded primarily by the private sector, according to the Financial Times, confirming speculation after [...]
Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton: Ministers preparing to back London airports expansion January 21, 2025 The government is preparing to approve major expansion plans at three London airports, according to reports. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is poised to announce her support for additional runways at Heathrow and Gatwick, and a bid by London Luton to significantly increase passenger capacity, in a speech later this month, according to Bloomberg. Reeves’ speech has [...]
‘Build baby build’: Break infrastructure ‘inertia’ to boost growth, report urges October 18, 2024 Ministers have been urged to break Britain’s infrastructure “inertia” in a bid to turbocharge the planning system and ramp up growth, according to a think tank report. Streamlining the consent process, empowering key decisions in the national interest, fixing ambiguous laws, and updating policy documents would all contribute to the UK’s ability to build infrastructure [...]
‘Incredibly frustrating’: Delay to £9bn Lower Thames Crossing condemned October 8, 2024 The government’s decision to significantly delay a verdict on whether to continue with the UK’s biggest road project has been condemned by transport and business groups. The £9bn Lower Thames Crossing (LTC), a road tunnel linking Kent and Essex, was already facing backlash over mounting costs and a £300m planning application which totals a whopping [...]
Reeves to scrap key infrastructure bodies as major projects suffer September 15, 2024 The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) and the Infrastructure Projects Authority (IPA) will be merged into a single body.
A burden or a blessing? PFIs look set for a return under Labour August 13, 2024 Reports that Rachel Reeves is mooting the use of private finance to fund the £9bn Lower Thames Crossing has fuelled chatter that Private Finance Initiatives could be set for a return.