Speaking to edie, Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment’s (IEMA) policy & practice lead Josh Fothergill said much of this investment will relate to energy and transport infrastructure; however significant work will also progress related to water, sewerage, flood and coastal management infrastructure.

“The environment profession will have a vital role in delivering this much needed infrastructure but does it have the right tools to help secure the UK’s economic and environmental future?”

Fothergill said whilst some may consider the solution to be simple – propose “the right development” in the “right location” – such opportunities may not be realistic.

“This is because of the scale of the infrastructure needed and the timescale over which it must be met,” he added.

As a result, significant numbers of infrastructure proposals, which carry environmental and social risk, will pass through the UK’s consenting regimes over the next decade, he said.

Yesterday, Forum for the Future CEO Peter Madden warned that more inclusivity must be built into London’s smart city agenda to safeguard its infrastructure against future climate threats.

Madden spoke of the importance of futureproofing big cities like London so that they could function effectively as low carbon hubs as demand grows for more housing stock and transport frameworks.

Read Upgrading Britain’s infrastructure – a constructive approach to a low-carbon economy

Leigh Stringer

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