Knowledge

Infrastructure

Provision of adequate physical infrastructure such as public transport networks, roads, telecommunications and energy infrastructure is essential for underpinning urban development and has a major bearing on the wellbeing of the community.

Latest news

Read the RTPI's response to the ICE State of the Nation Report 2013: Transport.
The RTPI's Peter Shand blogs on the announcement of the Phase Two route of HS2, January 2013
Why London needs a new airport: the Mayor of London sets out his response to the Government's ‘Draft Aviation Policy Framework’ consultation
DfT have published consultation responses for the consultation
on Devolving local major transport
schemes. Read the RTPI’s consultation response.

Policy changes and consultations

Wales Infrastructure Plan
In May this year the Minister for Finance and Leader of the House, launched the first iteration of the Wales Infrastructure Investment Plan, setting out how the Government will invest around £15bn over the next decade to boost growth and jobs and improve public services across Wales. The Plan outlined for the first time, a pipeline of schemes: a reflection of all Welsh Government programmes and projects where total scheme value exceeded £15m and, if not already started, were due to begin within the next three years.

To ensure the information remains current the Government is committed to providing a 6 monthly refresh of the pipeline and the first Annex 1 - Project pipeline update November 2012 is now available to download at:

English link: http://www.wales.gov.uk/funding/wiip2012/?lang=en

Welsh link: www.cymru.gov.uk/funding/wiip2012/?lang=cy

Sir Howard Davies launches Airports Commission
On 07 September 2012; the Government announced that it will create an independent commission on UK aviation capacity, chaired by Sir Howard Davies. The Commission will run between 2013 and 2015, its role will be to identify and evaluate how any need for additional capacity should be met in the short, medium and long term whilst maintaining a UK-wide perspective. On 02 November 2012, the Government announced a panel of six experts comprising leading academics and aviation experts who will work alongside Sir Howard.

The RTPI will aim to contribute to the findings of the commission; a guidance document is expected in January 2013 setting out the process for making submissions and the factors to be covered.

As part of our work on aviation we have recently responded to the consultation on the Draft Aviation Policy Framework and Commons Transport Inquiry into Aviation Strategy. If you would like to contribute to the work of the Institute then please email: transport@rtpi.org.uk.

Practice

The latest good practice exemplars in infrastructure planning are available here.

Networks

The RTPI-TPS Transport Planning Network is a member-driven forum for transport planners and those with an interest in transport issues. Join the Network.

RTPI projects and research

The RTPI has been involved in a study undertaken into the issue of Peak Oil and the implications for spatial planning.

Our viewpoint

The RTPI supports the provision of a wide range of physical infrastructure to support development and to provide for the quality of life of its users. We believe that the need to plan for major infrastructure projects should be fulfilled at the national level, with the wider aim of sustainable development. We also believe that infrastructure should be funded by the uplift of land value arising from development consent.

The regime for providing nationally significant infrastructure introduced by the 2008 Planning Act and the accompanying National Planning Policy Statements, is a major step forward in streamlining procedures for delivering much needed major infrastructure projects in the UK.