Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Paragraph: 49
It is clear from the evidence submitted to this inquiry that Government infrastructure projects are...
Conclusion
It is clear from the evidence submitted to this inquiry that Government infrastructure projects are progressed before due consideration is given to how they will address local needs. This practice increases the risk of infrastructure not addressing local needs, and therefore not supporting economic growth.
Paragraph Reference:
49
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
some time and Public Consultation was stipulated in the Localism Act 2011 and referenced in the Planning Act 1990. On the 6 August the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) launched a consultation, Planning for the future1, which set out Government plans to overhaul the outdated planning system and reform the way the country builds. This includes changing the culture and engagement of citizens with the planning system. It will see local communities consulted from the very beginning of the planning process, and by harnessing the latest technology through online maps and data, the whole system will be made more accessible and local people will be able to visualise planned development on maps. Alongside this there is already a process in place for the consent of nationally significant projects such as railways and offshore windfarms to ensure they meet a national need and support economic growth. the NIC’s National Infrastructure Assessment (NIA)2 and it proposed having a board level design champion and using a design panel to maximise the value provided by the infrastructure. This, along with the other recommendations in the NIA is being considered as part of the government response, which the Government will formally respond to as part of the NIS, which will be published in the autumn. 1 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-infrastructure-and-construction-procurement- pipeline-202021 2 https://www.nic.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/CCS001_CCS0618917350–001_NIC-NIA_Accessible.pdf