Recommendation 5

Previous infrastructure strategies have not led to coherent and co-ordinated infrastructure spending. A scattergun approach to infrastructure investment might result in expensive infrastructure that does not benefit a local area either because it is not supported by complementary services (for example new houses without transport links); or it is not nationally co-ordinated and directed to areas of greatest need. The National Infrastructure Commission was created to overcome silos, and while the Committee welcomes the NIC’s commitment to overcoming political barriers through its impartial reporting, it is not clear it has the power to really break through politicised and decentralised decision making, which sits within Central Government. The Committee welcomes Lord Agnew’s commitment to early involvement in decision making.