Steer Davies Gleave’s new integrated development practice advises the National Infrastructure Commission

Steer Davies Gleave’s new integrated development practice has been appointed recently by the UK National Infrastructure Commission (an Executive Agency of HM Treasury) to identify performance measures for use in the National Infrastructure Assessment (NIA).

The National Infrastructure Commission was established in 2015 to provide independent advice to HM Treasury on the pressing challenges facing the UK’s national infrastructure.

The Commission’s high level objectives, set by the UK Government, are to:

• support sustainable economic growth across all regions of the UK
• improve competitiveness
• improve quality of life.

As part of meeting these objectives, the Commission is responsible for preparing the NIA so Parliament is informed of the infrastructure requirements to be addressed. Providing an assessment of the current performance and shortcomings of the UK’s existing infrastructure, as well as planning for future performance, requires establishment of relevant, accurate and informative performance measures that can be used to report on how infrastructure is meeting objective levels over time. Working with JBA Consulting, the Temple Group and GreySky Consulting, Steer Davies Gleave is developing performance measures for the Digital Communications, Energy, Flood Risk Management, Solid Waste, Transport, Water and Wastewater sectors. The study also takes account of interdependencies between these key infrastructure sectors and their interactions with the built environment (for example, in facilitating Housing growth).

The project involves a review of current sector, national and international practice and also consultation with infrastructure sector leads to develop performance measures that are practical and relevant. The study is due to report by the end of February 2017.

Written by Simon Pringle