Weekly wrap | Northern infrastructure buzz begins

When prime minister Boris Johnson pledged to “re-balance” the country, life-long Labour voters in towns such as Wrexham, Darlington and Bury turned blue and ultimately put London’s former mayor into No. 10.

Sceptics suggested that Johnson’s promises of greater investment in the North were soundbites for votes. But now, less than one week out from the Budget, the North of England and Scotland is beginning to hum with anticipation ahead of Johnson’s Northern renaissance.

We already know that Johnson is a huge advocate of Northern Powerhouse Rail and that the government is committed to outlining a 20-year rail plan for the North. This week Northern Powerhouse Rail director Tim Wood told NCE that an integrated plan is “integral” to prosperity in the North and the UK as a whole.

We also know that Johnson is a fan of an ambitious crossing between Scotland and Northern Ireland, and these proposals have received the backing of Scotland secretary Alister Jack this week. Jack, however, has clarified that Johnson meant tunnel when he said bridge – make of that what you will.

The government’s U-turn on onshore wind projects is also likely to benefit the North. Lifting its ban on subsidies for onshore windfarms is likely to see several such schemes appear across rural parts of northern England and Scotland.

Meanwhile, the North’s biggest ongoing engineering project – the ￡4bn polyhalite mine in North Yorkshire – has also been rescued this week after Anglo America completed its takeover of mine owner Sirius Minerals, saving the project from financial collapse.

And while excitement builds up North, uncertainty surrounding projects in South rumbles on. The precarious position of Heathrow’s expansions plans has led Expedition Engineering director Alistair Lenczner to suggest a revolutionary rail network as an alternative. Meanwhile, London Mayor Sadiq Khan bemoaned a lack of clear funding for TfL, claiming it was the Capital’s biggest challenge. But fear not, because the government has a plan to lift the uncertainty and is recruiting a ‘Director of Infrastructure’ to cut through the fog and sort out the sector once and for all.

This week's top stories:

High Speed North review ‘must not delay project progress’

Ban lifted on onshore wind subsidies

Anglo American takeover of Sirius Minerals given shareholder approval

High speed rail network tabled as alternative to Heathrow expansion

‘Director of infrastructure’ wanted to lead government’s revolution

Crossrail boss urges project management rethink