A coalition made up of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA), the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), the Mineral Products Association (MPA), and the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE) is calling on extended budgets for highways
The joint letter about a five-year highways budget is being sent as a part of the government’s spending review.
The reasons given for a five-year funding cycle include maximising efficiency, driving innovation, and providing more long-term certainty for the industry.
“Much needed funding visibility will enable business to plan ahead”
Commenting on the joint letter, CECA director of operations, Marie-Claude Hemming, said: “The roads network is the backbone of the economy and is a vital catalyst for growth.
“Moving to a five-year funding cycle will provide local authorities with the visibility needed to plan ahead effectively and allow companies working in the sector to unlock efficiencies, foster innovation, and deliver to better outcomes for millions of road users.
“Should the Government work with industry to implement five-year funding cycles, we believe it will see increased returns on this investment in terms of growth, job creation, and the economic multipliers a world-class, future-ready roads network will deliver.”
ACE chief executive, Kate Jennings, said: “A five-year funding cycle will enable long-term, strategic decisions about road maintenance and improvement. Much needed funding visibility will enable business to plan ahead – unlocking investment, job creation, drive skills development, innovation and maximise efficiencies. Ultimately contributing to economic growth through more resilient, future-proof infrastructure.”
Robert McIlveen, senior director, Communications & Public Affairs at the MPA, said: “Local authorities need more certainty over their highways budgets to enable them to focus on long-term, proactive maintenance and reduce the number of potholes forming I the first place. A five-year funding commitment would deliver better value for money and better roads.”
Lyle Andrew FIHE, chief executive of the Institute of Highways Engineers, said: “The IHE believes that long-term funding would allow employers and training providers to plan strategically, ensuring skills provision meets industry demand. Stable, long-term funding would also create stronger partnerships between employers, professional bodies, and training institutions, resulting in a workforce capable of meeting evolving infrastructure needs.
“By implementing five-year funding commitments, the Government would enable businesses to invest in upskilling their workforce with confidence, ensuring the UK’s engineering sector remains resilient and capable of delivering critical transport and infrastructure projects.”
A five-year highways budget could help feed demand for new roads
The Home Builders Federation (HBF) has recently published a report showcasing research that demand in local authorities for new roads has increased by a staggering 1,000% in the last seven years.
The average time to approve road designs has also grown in seven years from two weeks to two years. With costs also skyrocketing, the effects on businesses are palpable, as old roads become more congested, and new roads take too long to construct and are too costly.
The HBF, therefore, is supporting the CMA’s recommendations “to introduce common adaptable standards and mandatory adoption by public authorities.” This will mitigate consequences, including reducing costs, delays, and business risk.
