Planning
It is crucial that the UK has a transparent, rigorous planning system that fully supports economic, environmental and social sustainability
Planning overview
The success of the system will depend on balancing a plan-led system, weighing up the concerns of all stakeholders - local communities, businesses or government - and the principles of sustainable development. This will mean that local communities have a role in deciding which developments can go ahead, while ensuring they only proceed if they fulfil environmental and social, as well as economic, needs.
According to the CBI's infrastructure survey, as many as 50% of firms believe the UK's transport networks have deteriorated in the past five years, and 40% of firms believe the energy networks have deteriorated. Worryingly, more than half of respondents thought the UK's infrastructure did not compare favourably to EU competitors.
The survey finds that 98% of businesses see planning as a barrier to infrastructure delivery - meaning that, as a result, it is also a hindrance to investor confidence.
CBI policy
The government last year estimated £200bn would be needed in the next four to five years to upgrade our infrastructure to meet demands; it also noted most of this would need to come from the private sector. So attracting private-sector investment in infrastructure is key, and addressing the planning issue must be part of the solution.
