The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced a package of infrastructure works worth up to £1.5 billion to help kickstart London’s economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis.

The London Recovery Board - led by Sadiq and Cllr Peter John, the Chair of London Councils - met this week to discuss long-term measures to enable the capital’s social and economic recovery from Covid-19, including a plan to join forces with utility companies on the Mayor’s London Infrastructure Group.

The partnership will progress projects to support the green recovery and jobs, helping to counteract Covid-19’s damaging impact on the economy. Projects include:

• Reducing water leakage by 20 per cent and pollution incidents by 30 per cent by 2025.
• Progressing plans to increase the resilience of the water supply network serving boroughs in north east London; the City and Canary Wharf.
• Upgrading the gas network to improve the security of London’s gas supplies.
• Ensuring the electricity infrastructure is in place to support electric vehicles, using innovative planning tools to identify the best charger locations and timings.

Companies including Thames Water, Cadent, Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), SGN, and UK Power Networks are working with City Hall and London’s local authorities to also identify new green schemes and accelerate future investment, providing new jobs that meet the Mayor’s aim for London to be a fairer, more equal, greener and resilient city post-Covid.

Some projects may require additional regulatory approval to ensure value for money and affordability, and the Board has stated its commitment to working with utilities, the Government and regulators to progress the case for additional investments that will boost London’s economy.

In addition, the Board has committed to support utility companies in identifying employment opportunities, especially for young people and Londoners from Black, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds who have been disproportionately affected by the crisis.

Throughout the pandemic, no staff have been furloughed in any of these utility companies, and that recruitment has continued.

Once the specific projects have been identified and agreed, they will be delivered with the support of the Mayor’s recently established Infrastructure Coordination Service, to promote collaboration and minimise costly road network disruption, particularly at a time when Sadiq is encouraging more Londoners to walk and cycle.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:

“The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have been devastating for our economy and we face a long road ahead, but the London Recovery Board has made great progress in working with companies to deliver infrastructure projects that will help to stimulate our economy, create green jobs and support Londoners who have been affected the most by the economic crisis.

“It is essential that infrastructure initiatives are utilised to serve all Londoners as we work to recover from this pandemic and to build back better with a fairer and greener economy. By working together with the major utility companies to progress and bring forward these projects, we have a valuable opportunity to improve the diversity of the sector and to help create new jobs for those who have been disproportionately impacted by Covid-19. This will help us to ensure nobody is left behind in London’s recovery.

“I am really pleased to work with the utility companies to support the city now and in the weeks ahead at the same time as reaching out to all Londoners to hear their long-term aspirations for the capital.”

Ian Marchant, Interim Executive Chairman at Thames Water, said:

“As we embark on an ambitious programme to invest £1billion over the next two years to improve the water and wastewater services Londoners rely on, it is a real boost to have the backing of the London Recovery Board.

“It is also great news for the economy, because delivering our plans will support our diverse workforce and supply chain, which we’ve continued to grow during the pandemic, recruiting more than 250 staff since March.”

London’s utility companies make a major contribution to the capital’s economy, employing engineers, contractors and construction workers in the water, electricity and gas sectors. GLA Economics analysis shows that for every 1,000 jobs created in the sector, an additional 500 jobs are created on production across supply chains, highlighting the importance of the sector driving employment opportunities.