The Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) welcomes the government’s commitment to infrastructure projects such as Northern Powerhouse Rail, but stresses that more detail is needed on the substantive reforms and long-term commitments required to place infrastructure at the heart of the UK’s growth strategy. 

Ben Brittain, Director of Public Affairs at ACE, said: “ACE welcome the positive decisions on Northern Powerhouse Rail and PPP for Neighbourhood Health Centres (NHC) - next we need to see the practical detail and long-term clarity required to turn ambition into accelerated delivery. Today’s Budget was a chance to set out the detailed, long-term reforms needed to stabilise NISTA’s pipeline and unlock private investment.

“What is now needed is concrete information to give industry confidence. Expanded devolved transport settlements and renewed support for Northern Powerhouse Rail, alongside not proceeding with plans to equalise the rates of Landfill Tax, show that the government understand the role of infrastructure in driving regional growth.” 

Brittain added: “Infrastructure underpins productivity, jobs and economic growth. Now we want to work with government to urgently accelerate progress – including more detail on the private investment models it wants industry to rely on. Infrastructure cannot remain the missing link in the growth plan.

“The industry now needs clarity. ACE members will work in partnership to support the development and implementation of these models, but we need the government to fill in the gaps and look forward to working with them to fill in these gaps.”