Prime minister and Chancellor hail the 鈥渃rucial鈥� role of infrastructure in their 鈥渓ong term economic plan鈥�
The prime minister and the Chancellor have pledged that 200 infrastructure projects worth a total of 拢36bn will start in the 2014-15 financial year.
The projects span rail, road, local transport, flood defences, broadband, airport infrastructure and waste management and include the Mersey Gateway Bridge and flood defence project in Sheffield Lower Don Valley and Exeter.
The schemes will be funded by 拢5bn of public investment, 拢21bn of private investment and 拢10bn in joint public and private investment.
Prime minister David Cameron said he wanted Britain to have 鈥渇irst class infrastructure鈥� and that it was 鈥渁 crucial part of our [the government鈥檚] long term economic plan鈥�.
He said: 鈥淭his government is backing business with better infrastructure so that more jobs and opportunities are created for hardworking people, meaning more financial security and peace of mind for families.
Chancellor George Osborne said investment in infrastructure would create a 鈥渕ore balanced, resilient economy鈥�.
He added: 鈥淏ecause of the tough decisions we have taken in day to day spending, we can prioritise public investment where it is most needed and create the right conditions for private investment in infrastructure where it brings value for the taxpayer.鈥�
Nelson Ogunshakin, industry chair of the National Infrastructure Plan Strategic Engagement Forum (NIPSEF), said: 鈥淭his fantastic emphasis is testament to the positive collaborative approach government and industries involved in the delivery of infrastructure, such as construction, have engaged in through NIPSEF over the past two years to ensure projects listed in the National Infrastructure Plan come to fruition.鈥�
He added the government鈥檚 鈥渇ull throated support鈥� for infrastructure would 鈥渇urther inspire the confidence of the industry鈥�.
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