New “Commit to Infrastructure” campaign launched by ICE ahead of General Election

ICE programme  aims to ensure that whichever party wins the General Election, infrastructure is central to policy thinking.

Antony Oliver
06 January 2015

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The infrastructure General Election build up kicked off this week with a new campaign by the Institution of Civil Engineers which intends to ensure that regardless of the outcome of voting in May, the public benefit from policies placing infrastructure at the heart of economic plans.

ICE’s “Commit to Infrastructure” campaign began this week with publication of a paper issued to all MPs designed to help them understand the importance of infrastructure to local communities and the wider UK economy. 

This document will be followed by the ICE’s Manifesto for Infrastructure in February to set out more detailed policies and build on the 2014 State of the Nation: Infrastructure report. 

The Commit to Infrastructure report sets out a five step infrastructure challenge for politicians:

1. To give infrastructure the front row seat it deserves – as a driver of growth and job creation but also a catalyst for regenerating communities and maintaining our quality of life
2. To be visionary - creating a long term, evidence based strategic vision and importantly a framework for achieving political consensus on that vision
3. To be bold – political courage is key, tough decisions lie ahead on the future of the UK’s energy and aviation policy, driving the delivery of major projects,  and managing the cost and resilience of our infrastructure networks
4. To get smarter at engaging with the public – to better make the case for infrastructure a proactive programme of engagement with the public is needed, building trust, confidence and credibility into the decision making process 
5. To build on the progress and momentum achieved in the last five years – starting from scratch risks losing momentum and shaking investor confidence

To get involved with the debate follow ICE on Twitter at @ICE_engineers and use the #Commit2Infrastructure hashtag or for more information email debate@ice.org.uk.

Social media will be used to drive home the message with a Twitter hashtag #Commit2Infrastructure created as a platform for debate in the five months until the General Election.

The ICE also has a number of meetings with politicians, forums, debates and hustings planned across the country to discuss infrastructure issues in the run up to the General Election.

A report on infrastructure resilience and availability will also be published, exploring the infrastructure challenges faced by cities around the world in the face extreme weather events, how they are managed, and how the UK can learn lessons. 

The Institution said it would urge all parties to consider whether an Independent Infrastructure Body to act as a framework for achieving consensus on the UK’s infrastructure needs - similar to that proposed by Sir John Armitt – could be achieved by building on the existing structure rather than creating an entirely new entity so as “to avoid stalling the momentum that has been achieved and shaking investor confidence at this crucial time”.

View the Commit to Infrastructure report at www.ice.org.uk/commit2infrastructure

To get involved with the debate follow ICE on Twitter at @ICE_engineersand use the #Commit2Infrastructure hashtag or for more information email debate@ice.org.uk.