Comment
Infrastructure Commission: A blueprint for Scotland
The Scottish Government initiated a 30-year strategy and delivery review for Scotland’s Infrastructure, by the Infrastructure Commission (IC). The remit defined infrastructure as economic and social infrastructure spanning transport, energy, telecoms, water, waste, flood defences, housing, education, health, justice and natural assets.
12 months into the 18 month programme, the IC has issued a key findings report including recommendations around eight core areas for review by Scottish Ministers and follows an extensive consultation exercise. The full report can be viewed here.
The core thread of the report is to change the focus of investment decisions towards an inclusive, net zero carbon economy. The report highlights the difficult choices to be made and trade-offs to be addressed to capture the economic opportunities, whilst recognising that it is no longer a case of ‘change or no change’ but how and when the changes will happen.
An ambitious timeline is set out to provide supporting Scottish Policy and Advice to deliver the recommendations.
A summary of the report recommendations is outlined below, with details of the necessary additional work required to be undertaken to secure delivery.
Leadership
Infrastructure prioritised decision making based on inclusive net zero carbon economy outcomes.
An infrastructure assessment framework by 2021.
An infrastructure needs assessment by 2023, reviewed at 5 year intervals.
A new Infrastructure Investment Plan by 2025.
Place
Place-based assessment of long term housing supply and demand by 2021, including a strategy for the labour market and business opportunities arising from inclusive net zero carbon economy.
To support National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), new development plans to have an infrastructure first approach introduced by 2021 directing an outcome based approach to planning spatial land use.
Making the most of existing assets
A presumption against like-for-like replacement of existing assets and construction of new single purpose/organisation assets in favour of shared assets. By the end of 2020 asset management strategies to be in place for all public sector infrastructure to consider enhancing, re-purposing or maintaining assets in favour of new infrastructure. Scottish Government to provide guidance on whole-life approach and assessing net zero carbon priorities.
By 2023 provide an implementation plan to ensure climate resilience and adaption needs of critical natural and built infrastructure.
Heat and transport
By the end of 2020 Scottish Government should outline incentives, support mechanisms and standards for energy efficient, net zero carbon buildings. This includes ‘whole building’ solutions and engagement with all property owners to upgrade their property.
By 2022 all public bodies should collectively establish viability, incentives and a route map for transition to net zero carbon addressing heating and surface-based transportation.
The National Transport Strategy and Strategic Transport Projects Review 2, due in 2020, reflect inclusive net zero carbon economy and aligns strategic investment against demand management and increasing active/shared travel in addition to the greater role of public transport. To deliver this, roads investment to focus on safety, resilience and reliability, rather than increased capacity.
By the end of 2021 confirm significant changes to investment decision making, including the appraisal and decision making process which incorporates changes to Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) and Investment Decision Making Guidance.
Immediately work with UK Government to establish an alternative charging/payment regime as an alternative to road taxation.
Regulation
Incentivise investment at the necessary pace and scale to meet future requirements.
Scottish and UK Governments to work together for energy and telecoms to have regulatory and pricing framework in place by 2021.
Options for water provision and flood management/resilience to be considered for longer term implementation and regulations by 2021.
Digital and technology
Ensure access for all to digital public services and to undertake trade and commerce, and participate in global economic markets irrespective of location.
Deliver a full fibre network to accommodate 5G across Scotland by 2027.
Prioritise an indigenous data centre market and investment in direct international fibre optic cables.
Role of the public
An informed approach to public consultation by 2022 to ensure short and long term trade-offs are debated, understood and taken into consideration.
Independent long term advice
To support transition to a long-term, coherent approach to place-based infrastructure strategy and planning, an independent body should provide advice to Scottish Ministers on investment decisions for social, economic and natural infrastructure needs.
Turley overview
For planning in Scotland, this is a timely report, coming before the consultation on NPF4 and the new style Local Development Plans, where clear recommendations are made on the necessity for these documents to provide an investment first strategy.
Our experience is that the current Scottish Planning system is lacking in national and strategic level place-making. Short-term decisions by local policy and decision makers considering a 5 year horizon is wholly inadequate to support and secure the changes needed for the delivery of strategic development and infrastructure. The recommendations will help shape the National and Regional policies and strategy, to consider long-term planning requirements over the next 30 years.
As always, the devil is in the detail. We will be closely monitoring the progress of the recommendations through Scottish Parliament and await the Phase 2 report from the IC on how Scottish Infrastructure can be delivered, including the potential of a Scottish National Infrastructure Company.
Should you have any questions or wish to discuss the content of the report with us, then do not hesitate to contact Colin Smith or Lisa Russell in our Edinburgh Office.
24 January 2020