Infrastructure and planning
Improving the performance of the land use planning system is the most important single issue facing the Welsh economy.
Infrastructure and planning overview
Wales's transport infrastructure has suffered from years of underinvestment. Although the rate of growth of congestion on our roads has reduced recently, Sir Rod Eddington has predicted a 30% growth in congestion by 2025. If left unchecked the cost to the English economy was predicted at £22bn a year by 2025 and increase business costs by £10bn a year. This equates to a cost of around £1.1bn a year to the Welsh economy and £600m a year cost to businesses by 2025.
Improving the performance of the land use planning system is the most important issue facing the Welsh economy. Industry still faces lengthy delays in processing applications, and the quality of the service offered differs considerably throughout Wales.
CBI policy
CBI Wales believes that as Wales emerges from the recession, an efficient transport network will be a critical factor in business investment decisions. The resilience of the country's road infrastructure is in doubt. Investigations should begin in earnest to fully utilise the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model to fund road improvements and the Welsh Government should reverse plans not to go ahead with a new M4.
CBI Wales believes presumption in favour of quality development must be the central principle of the forthcoming Planning Bill accompanied by policies to stimulate investment to meet the most important requirement for Wales at present, which is to boost economic performance.
Planning reform is the biggest priority for CBI members in Wales and urgent action in this area is required, alongside other key focus areas of public service procurement, infrastructure and regulation. Recent UK government planning reforms for England bring the need to speed up the Welsh Government's own plans into sharp focus. CBI Wales calls for the Welsh Government to bring forward its Planning White Paper to spring 2012, with a draft Bill out by autumn 2012 - not 2013 as is their plan.
If the pace of reforms for Wales does not gather speed, then Wales will find itself at an economic disadvantage, stuck with a less responsible planning system, while England introduces wide-ranging improvements.
