Acceleration Unit
On 21 August 2020 Transport Secretary Grant Shapps launched a new Acceleration Unit to speed up transport infrastructure projects and ‘build back better’ from COVID-19 as the government announced a new wave of funding to level up parts of UK.
Campaign for Better Transport Chief Executive and consumer champion Darren Shirley (formerly of Which? Magazine) will lead the new team of non-government specialists who will join the Department for Transport (DfT) to tackle delays to infrastructure projects. The unit will be directly accountable to the Transport Secretary.
Schapps also announced a raft of upgrades to Wales’ railways, with £343 million of investment to deliver better, faster, more reliable journeys, including:
- Kickstarting design work on plans to upgrade Cardiff Central station.
- Funding to develop plans for upgraded digital signalling on the 241-kilometre Cambrian line from Shrewsbury Sutton Bridge Junction to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli.
- Proposals to speed up journeys between Cardiff and Swansea, Chester and Llandudno Junction, and the Severn Tunnel and Cardiff.
The creation of the unit follows the establishment of a new Northern Transport Acceleration Council, dedicated to levelling up infrastructure across the North’s towns and cities.
Shapps said: “We want to accelerate Britain’s recovery by investing in vital infrastructure that will help get businesses back on their feet, create jobs to replace those that have been lost and level up our country. The creation of our new Acceleration Unit and investment in our roads and railways will ensure we build back better, greener and faster in the future.”
Darren Shirley, Head of the Acceleration Unit, said: “The breadth and depth of expertise in my new team will stand us in a good stead as we look to deliver the schemes that will help the country to rebuild faster through decarbonising the transport system and levelling up Britain as we emerge from the Coronavirus crisis.”
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
70+ experts appointed to public sector fire safety framework
The Fire Safety (FS2) Framework from LHC Procurement.
Project and programme management codes of practice
CIOB publications for built environment professionals.
Sustainable development concepts decade by decade.
The regenerative structural engineer
A call for design that will repair the natural world.
Buildings that mimic the restorative aspects found in nature.
CIAT publishes Principal Designer Competency Framework
For those considering applying for registration as a PD.
BSRIA Building Reg's guidance: The second staircase
An overview focusing on aspects which most affect the building services industry.
Design codes and pattern books
Harmonious proportions and golden sections.
Introducing or next Guest Editor Arun Baybars
Practising architect and design panel review member.
Quick summary by size, shape, test, material, use or bonding.
Types of rapidly renewable content
From forestry to agricultural crops and their by-products.
Terraced houses and the public realm
The discernible difference between the public realm of detached housing and of terraced housing.
Looking back at the influence of climate events
From a designer and writer: 'There are limits to growth but no limits to development'.
Terms, histories, theories and practice.
Biophilic design and natural light
Letting in the light and natural elements into spaces.