GIIA’s Advocacy for UK Infrastructure Strategy
At GIIA, we have consistently championed the need for a long-term, joined-up approach to infrastructure planning and investment. We have made the case across multiple governments, departments, and forums for a national strategy that provides clarity, coherence and confidence for investors. Below is a timeline of our advocacy efforts leading up to the anticipated publication of the UK Government’s 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy in 2025.
2020: Laying the Groundwork
GIIA submission to the National Infrastructure Commission’s Baseline Report (Second National Infrastructure Assessment). We called for a long-term roadmap to support the delivery of net zero and unlock private capital at scale. Our submission highlighted the need for:
- Policy predictability
- Pipeline clarity
- Cross-departmental alignment
2022: Warning on fragmentation
Commentary on the UK Infrastructure Bank’s strategic plan and the Autumn Statement
We raised concerns over mixed signals to the market and the risk of duplication without a unifying framework to steer investment. Our message: The UK needs a single, coherent infrastructure investment strategy anchored in government.
2023: Raising the volume
March – July: Engagement with Parliamentarians and departments.
We advocated for an infrastructure strategy to ensure consistency across policy, regulation, and delivery, particularly in support of net zero goals.
June: Publication of ‘Investing in the Future’ discussion paper.
This flagship GIIA paper made a direct call for strategic join-up across infrastructure policy, regulation and procurement. It outlined investor priorities and recommendations for reform.
November: Ministerial Roundtable with Lord Johnson, Minister for Investment.
We reinforced the case for a national infrastructure strategy as a tool to restore investor confidence and improve coordination across government.
2024: Making the case for a national infrastructure strategy
January: GIIA response to the DBT Smarter Regulation consultation
We urged the government to pursue a more pro-growth, coordinated approach to infrastructure regulation, warning that current regulatory uncertainty risks deterring private capital.
May: Letter to the Financial Times
In a high-profile letter ahead of the general election, we publicly called for greater cross-government alignment on infrastructure policy, backed by a long-term strategy.
Spring/Summer: Engagement with Labour
As part of our pre-election engagement, we encouraged Labour to adopt an embedded 10-year infrastructure strategy as central to restoring the UK’s attractiveness to global investors.
2025: Building an effective strategy
February: GIIA – National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) Roundtable on strategy and project pipeline.
In partnership with the National Infrastructure Commission, we brought together members and senior officials to discuss how a future strategy must deliver project visibility, consistency, and regulatory clarity.
March: GIIA Roundtable with Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones
We shared GIIA investor perspectives on how a well-structured, long-term plan could unlock capital and improve delivery outcomes.
Looking ahead
As the government prepares to publish its 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy, we will continue to work with policymakers and regulators to ensure it is not only ambitious, but practical and embedded across government. The real test will be whether the strategy provides the clarity, coherence and confidence investors need to support the UK’s infrastructure future.