The UK general election has delayed major projects, but industry figures are hopeful that a new administration could re-energise the country’s infrastructure focus.
Planning decisions on the Lower Thames Crossing and Immingham Eastern Ro-Ro Terminal have been pushed back following prime minister Rishi Sunak’s announcement of a general election for 4 July.
The secretary of state for transport Mark Harper issued a statement setting a new deadline for the determination of development consent orders (DCOs) for both projects for 4 October 2024.
National Highways’ £9bn scheme to build new bored road tunnels beneath the River Thames between Kent and Essex had been expected to receive a planning decision this month.
Associated British Ports’ £100M Immingham Eastern Ro-Ro Terminal scheme to build a new roll-on/roll-off facility at the Port of Immingham in Lincolnshire had been expected to receive a planning decision in July. A new green energy terminal has also been proposed at the site.
The government has said that the planning delays are due to the general election period and to allow appropriate time for any new secretary of state to consider the applications.
The snap election news has also affected other major infrastructure projects across the UK.
Statutory consultation for the section of the East West Rail scheme between Bedford and Cambridge was due to start this month. But the East West Railway Company, which is delivering the scheme, confirmed that the consultation period has now been delayed until after the election in July, to comply with pre-election guidelines.
The pre-election rules also mean that the company has had to postpone community information events in Bletchley and Marston Moreteyne.
The East West Rail scheme, which aims to create a direct rail link between Oxford and Cambridge, is being built in three connection stages. Phase one the scheme runs from Oxford to Bletchley/Milton Keynes, with the final section of the railway between Bicester and Bletchley due to be completed in 2025.
Phase two and three of the scheme, from Oxford to Bedford and Oxford to Cambridge are still in planning, and are dependent on final government funding and approval.
Meanwhile, GE’s sister title NCE has reported that the final investment decision on Sizewell C has been thrown into doubt by the early dissolution of parliament.
The nuclear plant in Suffolk is being developed by French energy company EDF with support from the UK Government. Its cost has been estimated to be at least £20bn.
The DCO for Sizewell C was officially triggered in January this year, following which the UK Government invested an additional £1.3bn in the project to support its preparation for full construction.
Energy secretary Claire Coutinho said that the government expected to take a final investment decision on Sizewell C before the end of parliament. The government’s subsidy advice unit was due to publish a report providing advice to government on the scheme on 17 June.
However, the announcement of the election brought an early end to the parliamentary session.
Industry reaction
Many figures across the construction and civil engineering industries have welcomed the announcement of a date for the general election, which puts an end to months of speculation.
Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) director of operations Marie-Claude Hemming said that news of the general election sounded the “starting-gun on a new focus on the UK’s infrastructure needs”.
“CECA has been campaigning on our policy recommendations since the start of this year, and we stand ready to work with whichever party or parties form the next government to ensure that an ambitious agenda to deliver world-class infrastructure is rolled out,” she said in a statement.
“In particular we would like to see the next administration make clear-cut commitments to infrastructure delivery within its first one hundred days of office, as communities in all parts of the country are relying on the economic growth and job creation that only investment in infrastructure can guarantee.”
She added that CECA stands ready to work with all parties to ensure that the country’s infrastructure needs are “dispassionately assessed, and to empower our world-class civil engineering contractors to get spades in the ground on infrastructure projects across the UK”.
Construction News reported that Balfour Beatty chief executive Leo Quinn said it was “good news” to have an election date.
“This election is an opportunity to provide a clear map of the future for our country and allow business and industry to plan and respond accordingly,” he said. “What is needed is stability, consistency and certainty.
“With the Infrastructure Project Authority seeing planned and projected investment of £775bn in the infrastructure sector – specifically in the energy and transport sectors – my ask of future government policy is simple: commit, commit, commit.”