What should the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority's priorities be?

The UK government has created a new body to oversee its infrastructure plans.

The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), launched today, will sit within HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office.

It will combine and enhance the functions of the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA).

The government wants NISTA to “bridge the gap between what we build and how we build it”.

That’s crucial with a new 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy (10YIS) coming in June.

The ICE’s new paper asks what NISTA’s priorities should be to ensure the 10YIS is successful.

Here are six key recommendations:

1. Provide independent advice and challenge to government

The context in which infrastructure decisions are made is complex and constantly changing.

It’s important that decision-makers continue to benefit from the impartial advice the NIC offered.

When that advice has been followed, the UK has made progress on its long-term goals and the public have benefited from infrastructure investment.

NISTA should also be able to challenge the government on difficult issues.

This could mean stopping projects from going ahead until their designs are advanced enough. Also ensuring projects aren’t delayed or cancelled for short-term political reasons.

The role doesn’t need to be confrontational.

Politicians need support from NISTA to manage the politics and communications around infrastructure projects.

2. Enable long-term strategic infrastructure planning

Major infrastructure projects can take decades to plan and deliver. Cross-party support is critical to their success.

Too many important projects are affected by stop-start delivery because they lack long-term commitment.

Short-term thinking leads to higher costs and projects that don’t address the public’s long-term needs.

NISTA will be responsible for clarifying what infrastructure services the UK will need in the future.

In doing so it should help build cross-party consensus to ensure those needs are met.

3. Oversee a credible project pipeline

Infrastructure pipelines should enable resource planning, innovation, investment and efficient delivery.

That means they need to be prioritised, stable and integrated across all sectors.

The UK’s most recent national pipeline lacks this detail.

NISTA can ensure the government develops and commits to a pipeline that meets the needs of the supply chain, investors and society.

4. Embed best practice and raise capability across government

NISTA should mandate that government departments and arm’s length bodies comply with the Construction Playbook and Constructing the Gold Standard (CGS).

The playbook provides practical guidance to deliver projects sustainably at pace and scale.

CGS implements the playbook policies at a strategic level with the support of proven examples.

The 24 CGS recommendations were endorsed by government and industry bodies in the 2022 playbook update. Compliance is independently verified.

The government also needs to prioritise recruitment and training so civil servants are ready to deliver the 10YIS.

NISTA can help provide a centre of expertise at the heart of government for departments to work with on capacity building.

5. Inform and engage the public

In recent polling by Opinium Research for the ICE, almost two-thirds of people (62%) said major infrastructure projects are poorly communicated to them.

That’s a problem because infrastructure exists to serve the needs of the public.

And the public ultimately funds new infrastructure, through taxes, utility bills or user charges.

Public support is crucial for Britain’s long-term infrastructure ambitions to succeed.

There needs to be clearer and more persuasive communication about infrastructure in the UK.

And decision-making needs to be people-focused. It should be informed by the needs and wishes of people who use the infrastructure.

NISTA shouldn’t be championing individual projects.

But it should articulate the importance of infrastructure investment, explain the economic, social and environmental value, and celebrate demonstrable successes.

6. Engage globally

We shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that the UK does a lot well.

It’s established a strong global reputation for strategic infrastructure planning, finance and delivery.

The IPA International Unit has been at the forefront of that work alongside other partners.

There is a growing appetite among governments for sharing best practice globally as highlighted by the ICE-convened Enabling Better Infrastructure programme.

Those international efforts also help the UK’s international climate and trade goals.

NISTA should retain the current IPA International function.

This will ensure the UK government continues informing and learning from global best practice on strategic infrastructure planning and delivery.

Looking ahead

Alongside the 10YIS, the government will also announce the outcome of the spending review.

Together they must set the direction of travel for the UK’s infrastructure. Investors and the supply chain need clarity and consistency.

NISTA will be pivotal in ensuring that happens.

Read the ICE’s full briefing paper