July 2025
UK councils suffer on average 43 flooding incidents a year, with nationwide recovery costs of up to £566 million, according to findings from Infrastructure Policy Advancement (IPA), the policy think-tank at Bentley Systems, Incorporated. More than half of councils (57%) also reported that their sewer systems had been overwhelmed in the last decade.
The IPA think-tank examined data from 382 district, borough, and county councils across the UK, and found:
July 2025
As various parts of the world continue to experience extreme weather events, many authorities must now grapple with how to make cities more climate resilient.
One of the leading climate resilient concepts is the sponge city, where a variety of technological and nature-based solutions can be used to absorb water flooding and future-proof developments.
Urban designers and infrastructure experts are playing a key role in the debate around sponge cities, but other organisations, such as utilities also have a role to play…
July 2025
Flood clean-up and recovery is costing UK councils up to £566m per year, with overwhelmed drainage systems and rising flood incidents placing increasing pressure on local authorities.
This is according to new analysis by the Infrastructure Policy Advancement (IPA) think-tank, part of Bentley Systems Incorporated.
The IPA analysed data from 382 district, borough and county councils, finding that councils experience an average of 43 flood events annually…
July 2025
Floods are hitting the UK in a more complex way than ever, and the financial strain on local councils is growing, making it impossible to ignore. New analysis from the Infrastructure Policy Advancement think tank, part of Bentley Systems, reveals that flood clean-up and recovery are costing councils across the country up to £566 million every year. Behind these rising costs are outdated drainage systems and an alarming increase in extreme weather events.
The IPA reviewed data from 382 local authorities, including district, borough and county councils, and found that on average, each one experiences 43 separate flood events annually. That’s nearly one incident every week for many communities…
July 2025
The IPA think-tank examined data from 382 district, borough, and county councils across the UK, and found:
March 2025
In 2015 New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer delivered a renowned speech in opposition to City Hall’s plan to deliver a major regeneration scheme in East New York and at the same time displace around 50,000 existing residents.
In the speech he said: “When it comes to urban planning, we need to do a better job of listening to existing communities, engaging residents, and considering the long-term impact of re-zoning on the people who have lived in our neighbourhoods most, if not all, of their lives. Once a developer’s shovel hits the ground, the die has been cast for generations.”
In the US, Japan, and indeed much of Europe, zoning determines how pieces of land in different areas must be used (i.e. residential, commercial, industrial, etc), unlike in the UK…
Feb 2025
The summit came just ten months ahead of the emirate hosting COP28 this November.
One of the hottest topics at the summit was solar power, which got me thinking about the past, present, and future of this technology.
Since the Iron Age, when humans first used lenses to focus solar rays and light fires, the sun has been the most visible source of power on our planet.
The question, as always, was whether the technology could match humankind’s ambition and thirst for energy consumption.
By the middle of the 20th century, solar panels that created energy existed—but they were so expensive the only practical use for them was the US Vanguard 1 satellite in space…
Dec 2024
During the past six weeks, I have immersed myself in the investment world, engaging in meetings and studying essential materials whilst recruiting individuals with infrastructure investment experience.
So the idea of consolidating pension funds into “megafunds” has an enduring allure, and for good reason. UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves is the latest in a line of policymakers to recognize the untapped potential of local government pension assets, which collectively hold a staggering £392 billionacross England and Wales. This immense pool of resources has long been viewed as a key to unlocking investment to drive economic growth for infrastructure projects and businesses of the future. However, the fragmented nature of these funds continues to undermine their potential…
Nov 2024
While the Prime Minister has been hanging out in Brazil, businesses are finding it challenging to grasp the intricacies of the budget, thus making commentary on such a budget quite difficult.
The probable results of a budget frequently remain unclear for weeks, and the true outcomes may not be evident for years. Due to the continuous occurrence of various events, the policies arising from a budget event frequently face new policies and global developments that can either create friction, derail, or potentially enhance a budget decision.
Rather than tackle all the intricacies of the new business challenges caused by both the 6.7% and 16% increases in the minimum wage and the 1.2% increase in employer National Insurance Contributions I’m first of going to tackle what the government is trying to achieve with the 2025 budget…
Oct 2024
Years before becoming Britain’s first female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, observed: “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.”
Next week Britain’s first female Chancellor of The Exchequer appears focused on delivering something her male predecessors have talked about for a lot of years: a fresh approach to tackle the UK’s ageing infrastructure by significantly increasing private investment in national infrastructure assets.
And there is quite a gap in UK infrastructure investment which needs closing…
Sept 2024
Next week I will be returning to one of my favourite countries.
Whether it’s waterfalls, mountains, rain forests, lakes or prairies, as the world’s second largest country, Canada is home to some of the most beautiful nature and varied landscapes in the world.
From the Rocky Mountains to the Canadian Badlands, from the Gros Morne National Parks in Newfoundland to the beaches of Vancouver Island, Canada is home to plenty of natural wonders and more than 22 UNESCO World Heritage sites…