The latest London TIP Summit once again highlighted the significant challenges faced across the UK in transforming the nation’s infrastructure to meet future needs and boost economic and social outcomes.

Infrastructure is fundamentally a system designed to serve people, improve their lives, and meet societal needs – a system which the new Labour government is backing with investment to underpin this ambition while also driving a bold economic growth agenda.

However, the poor condition of large parts of the UK’s economic and social infrastructure, along with the slow pace of planning and delivery of improvements, was highlighted at the latest TIP Live – Transforming Infrastructure Performance – summit as a major blocker to the delivery of these improved outcomes and crucial ambitions.

While the pipeline remains strong, major projects still often take over a decade to secure planning approval, with construction timelines stretching similarly long, potentially negatively impacting the ability to convert investment in nationally significant infrastructure projects into accelerated growth. This inefficiency is echoed across multiple sectors, with long delays in delivering key infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and transport networks.