Designing and delivering “resilient, sustainable, thriving communities” through infrastructure
Credit: iStock, miki-tiger
New University of Manchester report stresses the importance of making informed, long-term decisions on the UK’s infrastructure
From improving broadband connectivity across the UK to creating sustainable global supply chains, the UK’s infrastructure needs are a pressing topic for policymakers.
Now a new report produced by Policy@Manchester, The University of Manchester’s policy engagement unit, has highlighted some of the key infrastructure issues facing the country.
The report, On Infrastructure, has been compiled by academic experts from The University of Manchester. It puts eight areas under the spotlight, including public transport systems, the NHS’s “poorly maintained infrastructure” and the UK’s broadband connectivity, and provides a series of research-led recommendations. The aim is to give policymakers the knowledge they need to make informed long-term decisions and to design and deliver “resilient, sustainable, thriving communities”.
“Societies rely on infrastructure systems that are remarkably complex,” writes Dr Janet Young CBE, Director General and Secretary of The Institution of Civil Engineers, in the report’s foreword. “People’s needs are becoming more complex in turn, and building and maintaining these systems is increasingly challenging. So, embracing innovation and technological advancements is absolutely crucial to success.”
Dr Young says that the scale and complexity of today’s engineering challenges are immense. Modern infrastructure services, including energy, transportation, communication and water networks, have to serve an ever-increasing population but must also contribute to the economy and respond to “the growing threats of climate change and biodiversity loss”.
“Our infrastructure is under the kind of pressure it’s never faced before,” she adds. “To deal with competing social, economic and environmental demands, infrastructure will need to be smarter, greener and more resilient.”
MPs have welcomed the On Infrastructure report, seeing it as timely and insightful.
“The world is moving rapidly forward with new technologies and approaches to old problems,” said Mark Garnier MP, who as well as being Chair of the Energy Studies APPG is now Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury.
“Green energy will replace fossil fuels, whilst big data and artificial intelligence both change the way we think and put pressure on data infrastructures. Whilst emerging economies are building much of their infrastructure fresh, here in the UK we are adapting infrastructure that has been around for decades if not centuries. That is why The University of Manchester’s On Infrastructure report is both timely and important.”
Meanwhile Victoria Collins MP, Science, Innovation and Technology Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, said the report “provides timely analysis on some of the biggest policy challenges our country currently faces. Whether it’s expanding access to gigabit broadband to every home and business across the UK, or making our cities and supply chains more sustainable, Liberal Democrats have always championed the vital infrastructure investments that will boost prosperity and people’s living standards.”
The On Infrastructure report says that the country’s digital infrastructure divide is a major concern. University of Manchester research has uncovered a difference in broadband coverage, accessibility and speed across the UK and between urban and rural areas. While 97% of all residential premises have access to Superfast Broadband of at least 30 megabits per second, England, Scotland and Wales lag far behind Northern Ireland when it comes to access to full Ultrafast Broadband (300 megabits per second or greater).
Despite the government’s commitment to improving broadband connections to hard-to-reach parts of rural and coastal areas, this target is seen as overambitious, largely due to the lack of commitment of sufficient funding. It suggests that the impressive improvement of broadband provision across urban and rural parts of Northern Ireland shows that things can be done when there is “a political will and the backing of funding resources”.
Another article looks at metropolitan transport systems, in particular the rise of digital platform technology and new mobility services, such as Uber, bike-share schemes like Beryl, e-scooter rentals like Lime and journey planning apps such as Citymapper. It assesses how digital platforms like these can be strategically incorporated into public authorities’ existing systems to address public policy priorities and improve transport systems.
Creating sustainable supply chains is hugely important, says the report, especially as supply chains currently account for around 80% of global greenhouse emissions. It points out that supply chains can be susceptible to major world events, such as the Japanese tsunami of 2011, labour strikes, adverse weather and political upheaval, and suggests a series of recommendations based on University of Manchester research. These include making logistics networks more resilient to disruption, using AI models for mapping supply chain operations and moving away from road transport and towards transporting goods by sea, thereby reducing costs and overall carbon footprint.
Meanwhile, an article on water reuse for sustainable practices in new housing says that demand for water in England will outstrip supply within the next 25 years and that by 2050 England could face a water supply gap of more than 4.8 billion litres per day.
The government is already exploring how to reduce water scarcity but the report urges that the focus should shift away from individual usage and instead recognise the various ways in which water use is embedded in the design of homes and communities.
Energy is an additional area of concern. While the government has implemented policies to address energy poverty, 13% of households in England are classified as fuel poor and find it difficult to pay for the energy needed to have a warm home. The report calls for a consultation to investigate modern household energy needs, with cross-working between government departments and the sharing of information to devise strategies, policies and interventions.
The report also scrutinises the NHS, drawing attention to “its continued underfunding and a growing pool of poorly maintained infrastructure, yet increasing numbers of patients”. The academics’ recommendations include seeking examples of best practice on hospital buildings’ construction, sharing this centrally so new buildings can be delivered efficiently and at an affordable cost, prioritising the replacement of worn-out buildings and addressing the shortage of beds in under-resourced trusts.
Finally, the Manchester academics believe that green infrastructure (GI) should be an essential part of urban infrastructure. The benefits of this are huge. They emphasise, for instance, that £2.1 billion a year could be saved in health costs if England had good access to green spaces, due to increased physical activity in those spaces. They also highlight the importance of big data in planning infrastructure and say that it is “critical” that the government engages with research to develop policies that support ecological functionality.
Alex Sobel MP, Chair of the Net Zero APPG, agreed that integrating nature into urban infrastructure is vitally important.
“Natural ecosystems play a crucial role in carbon capture and resilience to climate impacts,” he said. “Green infrastructure is a key strategy for this that will push us towards the UK's net-zero goal. Urban green spaces, such as parks and community gardens, are of huge importance and also ensure the preservation and restoration of natural habitats to support biodiversity.
“By integrating nature into urban planning, which is part of Labour’s plan, we can enhance air quality, provide habitats for wildlife and improve community well-being, all contributing to a balanced and resilient environment.”
Read the full report, On Infrastructure, by Policy@Manchester here.
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