The National Infrastructure Commission has announced the topics that will sit at the heart of its next major assessment of the UK’s long term infrastructure priorities, to be published in 2023, following analysis of the current performance of key sectors.

The priorities include a study on improving asset management within the flood protection, water and wastewater sectors. 

The baseline report published today concludes that the sector delivers water of reliable quality to homes and businesses across England, with low numbers of service interruptions, and customers are generally satisfied with the water and wastewater services provided. 

"Serious pollution incidents from water and sewerage have recently plateaued at an unacceptably high level"

It goes on to note that while the number of serious pollution incidents caused by water companies has decreased from 2002, serious pollution incidents from water and sewerage have recently plateaued at an unacceptably high level. 

Explaining the Commission’s chosen focus, the report says “asset condition is variable with challenges around leakage levels, sewer collapses and an aging asset base. The level of leakage is still considerable within the sector, although there have been reductions in recent years. Resilience to drought remains a challenge for the sector.” 

The Commission also pledges to explore the potential role of sensors and digital twins among other digital technologies to provide a higher quality service to consumers whilst also supporting better management of energy networks. 

The asset management study outlined today joins a further project on better management of surface water flooding, announced by government alongside last month’s Budget and Spending Review. This study will consider actions to maximise short term opportunities and improve long term planning, funding and governance arrangements for surface water management, while protecting water from pollution from drainage. A call for evidence to inform that review has also been launched today, with the Commission inviting responses before 20 December 2021. 

Continued risk of flooding to more than five million properties in England

In its overview of flood resilience, the Commission notes that despite increased government funding, there remains a continued risk of flooding to more than five million properties in England – including more than three million at risk of surface water flooding. Meanwhile, the Commission’s social research found that flood resilience is the area commanding lowest public confidence about future preparedness. 

The water and flooding related projects join six other challenges addressing three strategic themes the Commission has decided will frame the second National Infrastructure Assessment: reaching net zero, reducing environmental impacts and building resilience to climate change, and helping level up communities across the UK. The Assessment will set out costed policy recommendations to government to ensure the UK is ready for future challenges and opportunities, looking ahead over the next 10 – 30 years. 

Writing in the baseline report’s foreword, Sir John Armitt, Chair of the Commission, notes that the three strategic themes identified by the Commission “each pose urgent and wide ranging questions. Each draw broad political and public support for their end goal. Each, however, offer few quick wins or cheap fixes.” 

“We will now embark on this work – informed by input and insight from industry, political leaders, representative bodies, other organisations across the country and the public – and formulate policy recommendations to put forward to government,” he adds. 

A wider call for evidence process has been launched in addition to the consultation on the surface water flooding project, with interested stakeholders invited to submit data to the Commission to inform work on the topics it has identified.  The Commission will also undertake sector events, regional visits and social research as it develops its recommendations.  

Alongside the recent Budget and Spending Review, the Chancellor widened the Commission’s formal objectives to include an explicit goal to support the transition to net zero and enable climate resilience. It was also announced that the upper end of the ‘fiscal remit’ within which the Commission must formulate its recommendations has been lifted from 1.2% of GDP a year to 1.3% of GDP – potentially representing billions of pounds in additional investment in infrastructure over the long term. 

Click here to download the SECOND NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE ASSESSMENT BASELINE REPORT

Click here to access supporting information and appendices