Infrastructure investment in the South West needed now to secure future economic growth
The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) in the South West has presented its routemap for regional economic growth - identifying the infrastructure improvements that are vital to the future development of the region’s economy.
In the report - Infrastructure: The Routemap for Regional Growth - CECA identifies the key infrastructure projects required to unlock wider economic progress and called on the Local Enterprise Partnerships in the South West to work more closely together to deliver infrastructure improvements and boost skills.
Alan Taylor, Executive Director, CECA Southern and South West, commented: “The South West’s population is growing and the prospects for the economy are positive - but we need to create the right conditions for businesses. We need to be a better connected region…one with better highways, a better rail network, energy security and a new water strategy to prevent flooding.”
The recommendations in the report include:
- Progressively upgrading the A303/A358/A30 to dual carriageway standard throughout
- Completion of the Bristol ring road to improve traffic flow around the city
- Use of Regional Growth Fund resources via joined up LEP action to improve local road networks
- Better rail connections through dualling or a passing loop to the Exeter-Waterloo route as an alternative to the Paddington route
- Rail electrification feasibility study for critical routes
- Improved flood schemes for Exeter and flood prevention works at key points on the rail network
- Improved water infrastructure in the South West with the next investment phase planned for the years 2015-2020
- Full UK government commitment now to Hinkley Point C to enable works to commence and safeguard long-term energy supply; many existing nuclear and coal power stations are likely to be decommissioned after 2017
- Speedy resolution of delays to works in Penzance and St Mary’s harbours
Alan Taylor commented: “It has been proven that for every 1,000 jobs created in infrastructure, more than 3,000 jobs are created in the wider economy. As such, investment in infrastructure makes sound economic sense - however we need the UK government to expand the number of projects via the Public Works Loan Board from one to three per LEP and to give LEPs much more specific terms of reference…along with the means to carry out the infrastructure programme that we need.”
The CECA report for the south west builds on the outcome of an in-depth national study of the UK’s infrastructure position relative to its international competitors undertaken by the Centre for Economic and Business Research (Cebr) on behalf of CECA.
This showed that:
- Improving UK infrastructure could boost GDP by 5% or £100 billion by 2026
- The UK loses £78 Billion each year due to the relatively poor quality of its infrastructure
- For every 1,000 jobs created in infrastructure, a total of more than 3,000 jobs are created in the economy as a whole
- Every £1 billion of infrastructure construction increases overall economic activity by £2.84 billion
“The South West’s economy has shown resilience throughout the economic downturn and CECA South West firmly believes that its recommendations for future investment in infrastructure will lay the foundations for the long-term economic growth of the region,” concludes Alan Taylor. “Let’s hope that the Government Spending Review in two weeks’ time acknowledges the importance of infrastructure investment and outlines a more robust approach to investing in our infrastructure asset base.”
Click here for further information about CECA.
