The National Infrastructure Commission, the UK government’s independent advisers on national infrastructure, has taken space in One Embankment, the central Leeds offices which also serve as the headquarters of the UK Infrastructure Bank.
Photo:John Flint; Sir John Armitt and Cllr Jonathan Pryor outside
One Embankment, new base for the National Infrastructure Commission
A small number of Commission staff will work from the new office with immediate effect, with the intention that around 40 per cent of the Commission’s secretariat will be based there in future, with others continuing to work from offices in London.
The move is part of the government’s commitment to move 22,000 civil service positions out of London and the South East by 2030, through the ‘Places for Growth’ programme.
Deputy Leader of Leeds City Council Cllr Jonathan Pryor joined National Infrastructure Commission Chair Sir John Armitt and UK Infrastructure Bank Chief Executive Officer John Flint to cut a ribbon marking the official opening of the new premises.
Sir John commented:
“It’s great to be here. Having a team based in West Yorkshire and holding our main Commission meetings here regularly will give us a stronger sense of the infrastructure needs of this part of the country, while also enabling us to build a close working relationship with the new UK Infrastructure Bank.
“The Commission helps identify long term priorities while the Bank helps fund projects that might otherwise not secure private investment, and together we play an important role in ensuring the UK’s infrastructure is fit for the future.”
Cllr Pryor, said Leeds was “excited to see recommendations come forward next year from the Commission to hopefully improve key infrastructure in Leeds and across the North, particularly our transport, energy and zero carbon infrastructure.”
Later this year the National Infrastructure Commission will publish the next National Infrastructure Assessment, a major report setting out costed recommendations to government on the UK’s long term infrastructure priorities.
Commissioners visited West Yorkshire in July 2022 and met with local political and business leaders to discuss the region’s aspirations for transport and energy networks, among other infrastructure, to help inform the Assessment.
The Commission proposed the establishment of a national infrastructure bank in its first National Infrastructure Assessment, published in 2018, which was a key factor in the Government establishing the UK Infrastructure Bank in Leeds in June 2021.
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