New government must back Airports Commission decision in first 100 days - CBI

Henry Kerali
23 March 2015

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Next UK government must back recommendations from the Airports Commission on siting of a new runway in the south east  in order “to break the infrastructure impasse", business body CBI has said. And it wants an early announcement of the creation of an infrastructure commission.

In a new report  - ‘Best Foot Forward’ - CBI outlined actions the new government should implement in the first 100 days of parliament.

As well as encouraging the next government to support the Airports Commission, the report suggests it establish an independent infrastructure commission, continue to implement the Electricity Market Reform (EMR), and make energy efficiency a national infrastructure priority.

“Announce legislation to create an independent infrastructure commission in its first Queen’s Speech after the election, alongside continuing with the delivery of the current rail and road programmes” - CBI

“The first 100 days sets the tone for the new parliament,” said CBI director general John Cridland. “[It provides] an opportunity to build up early momentum and start to show an expectant country how political vision will be turned into reality.”

In highlighting the current “infrastructure impasse” in government, the CBI report said failing to get behind the Airports Commission could hinder economic growth in the UK. By backing the commission, the report said the new government would be setting a decisive tone on infrastructure, but warns it must not “prejudge [the commission’s] conclusions or write off options in advance.”

Furthermore the report said government should adopt an evidence-based approach when making decisions on major infrastructure projects. Doing so would encourage a longer-term view on the delivery of infrastructure and would break the UK out of its “piecemeal approach.”

Therefore CBI recommended the next government “announce legislation to create an independent infrastructure commission in its first Queen’s Speech after the election, alongside continuing with the delivery of the current rail and road programmes”.

When it comes to energy efficiency, the report says the next government must stick to implementing EMR, as well as setting the timeline for a post-2020 Levy Control Framework. With energy costs rising in households and offices, “designating energy efficiency as a national infrastructure priority would, over time, also help with energy bills, improve energy security and tackle climate change,” the CBI concluded.

CBI also suggested the next government develop “a comprehensive new housing strategy to reach the target of 240,000 homes being built every year by 2025, which includes designating ten garden cities for development”.