Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission Sir John Armitt, has highlighted the need for honesty with the public about the costs of big shifts needed to deliver the transition to a lower carbon economy – and the costs of inaction.

Addressing the All Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure last night, Sir John looked ahead to the high level challenges for infrastructure networks over the next 12 months.

He emphasised the importance of sticking to the course of long term plans to lend certainty to supply chains and investors and called for an acceleration of policy design and delivery in key areas.

He told MPs that power supply outages and serious flooding incidents following recent storms, Covid-related cuts to train services and controversy over river pollution had all raised questions about the UK’s resilience to climate change and the country’s response to less foreseeable threats.

“The overarching question we have to answer in 2022, it seems to me, is how we can retain – and in some areas rebuild – public confidence that our infrastructure will be fit for the future,” he said.

He continued:

“The challenge is how to keep pace with investing for the future, while bringing the public – taxpayers and billpayers – with us on the journey. The transition to net zero must be fair if it is going to be accepted by the public.”

According the the NIC Chief, ducking the challenge now will delay the outcomes that people want to see and in many instances, increase overall costs.

“In water, for instance – the moment is now for shaping the next price control period and beyond to ensure our sewers and sustainable drainage systems have the capacity needed for increased rainfall and greater urbanisation,” he said.

“We need to be open and honest with the public: about the costs of the big shifts we need to achieve, but also about the costs of inaction.”

In his view, the best short term solution is often to make the case for the long term solution and the UK needs to develop the policy pathways to reach the long term goals that have been set.

For instance, we need to see the indicators government proposes to use to measure flood resilience, to inform future investment in defences and adaptation.

Sir John acknowledged that setting long term goals and being upfront about the costs is “not always politically expedient” and that strategy needs be reviewed in the face of significant changes in circumstance.

However, he emphasised that “resisting too many shifts of gear” lends certainty to operators, supply chains and the public – and crucially helps crowd in private investment.

“So my call to the Chancellor and fellow ministers is perhaps an unusual one: stick with the plan you’ve set out, and let’s get on with policy design and with delivery,” he concluded.