ACE Scotland has called for major reforms to speed up infrastructure delivery in Scotland, warning that long-term uncertainty and systemic barriers are slowing progress.

Ahead of the May Scottish Parliament elections, the consultancy body published a manifesto urging the next government to adopt a long-term Infrastructure 2050 strategy to guide policy, funding, and project delivery. The proposals cover governance, investment, and skills measures aimed at accelerating projects, attracting private investment, and supporting economic growth, resilience, and sustainability.

ACE Scotland Chair, Sarah Peterson said Scotland faces a “huge infrastructure challenge” as it seeks both to renew ageing assets and deliver new capacity. She added that delivery is being held back by fragmented governance and short-term funding, and called for infrastructure to be treated as a national investment strategy.

The manifesto proposes a Scottish Mutual Investment Model to bring private capital into public projects and reduce reliance on constrained funding. It also highlights the engineering skills shortage, recommending a national skills audit, stronger links between education and industry, and a high-profile recruitment campaign modelled on the Army’s “Be the Best” initiative.

Director of Public Affairs Ben Brittain said planning must be strategic, investment long-term, and delivery efficient. He stressed that infrastructure should support energy resilience, low-carbon technologies, and natural capital, helping Scotland strengthen energy security, drive economic growth, and restore the environment simultaneously.

ACE Scotland said the reforms are critical if the next government wants to deliver infrastructure faster, smarter, and more sustainably.

Read the manifesto here.