All change in transport infrastructure

If a week is a long time in politics, the last six weeks feel like a lifetime in transport infrastructure.

Ministerial announcements this autumn have shown us once and for all that there is so much more to transport infrastructure than lines on a map, having business case approval in the bank, and hunkering down to quietly focus on linear project delivery.

The launch of Network North, and the decision to cancel Phase2 of HS2, shows how projects need to maintain full control of cost and explicit constant political support for the benefits they aim to deliver.? The Chancellor’s announcement today on further devolution of powers and single funding settlements for the West Midlands and Greater Manchester authorities shows a willingness to empower new and different players to deliver the right results.?

Delivering the transport infrastructure that will drive our economic future is fundamentally about continued excellent performance in a dynamic environment.? Success comes from the trust built by accurate reporting, the reassurance from excellent cost control and the political confidence earned by focusing on delivering economic and social benefits.

In our work with clients around the world, Arcadis sees growing demand for tools and techniques to rise to these challenges.? It is no secret that the megatrends of urban growth, the need for high quality sustainable places and the demands of new industrial sectors are driving competition and ambition in cities around the world.

This is why we have launched our new strategy to accelerate a planet positive future through the work that we do.? As the UK moves away from government-controlled delivery bodies like HS2 Ltd to better funded, assertive city regions we have lessons to share from our work around the world:

-????????? Success starts with selecting the right projects, linked to wider outcomes which will drive growth.

-????????? Harness the power of digital disruption. ?

?-????????? Build the right team for the job in hand.?

-????????? Embrace a partnership approach ready for the job in hand.

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As a leading transport design consultancy, we understand the potential of new stations, road and rail infrastructure and urban realm to transform a place.? But we can also see how much the delivery environment has changed: through political expectation, the imperative of sustainability or the opportunities of new technology.

We are at a pivot point in the future of transport infrastructure in the UK, and Arcadis looks forward to supporting clients across the country to meet new challenges and opportunities in what we do.