The future infrastructure of Scotland
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
ICE President Paul Sheffield brought together industry leaders to discuss the ambitions, opportunities and challenges surrounding Scotland’s future infrastructure. "A really important conversation” was how one participant described the ICE Scotland Leaders Debate on Scotland’s Future Infrastructure,
[edit] Infrastructure and economic recovery
Covid-19 has highlighted the fundamental importance of our existing infrastructure systems and has placed a renewed emphasis on infrastructure as the backbone of economic recovery.
There remains too a focus on climate change. As has become clear with the Stonehaven train derailment, landslips at the Rest and be Thankful and the breach of the Union Canal, modern infrastructure must adapt if it is to be climate resilient.
Participants focused on three fundamental questions:
- What does Scotland’s Future Infrastructure look like? Do we understand our infrastructure requirements moving forward?
- What are the challenges, practical steps and the costs associated with making that vision a reality?
- What can industry, as well as government, do to deliver the right infrastructure landscape in Scotland?
[edit] Funding for the future
Following presentations from Scottish Futures Trust, the Infrastructure Commission for Scotland and ICE Scotland – a vibrant discussion covered diverse topics from regulatory effectiveness, infrastructure delivery mechanisms and – critically – funding possibilities.
After the event, ICE Scotland Director Hannah Smith, said: “It was excellent to gather key figures across Scotland’s infrastructure landscape for this incredibly thought-provoking debate. It’s clear that there are no easy answers to the difficult questions facing the sector, so opportunities like this to collaborate and share knowledge are increasingly important.
“This session will help inform our work going forward and I thank all those who took part.”
This article originally appeared on the ICE website under the title, "ICE Scotland Leaders Debate – Scotland’s future infrastructure." It was written by Gordon Brown and published on 11 September 2020.
--The Institution of Civil Engineers
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Climate change science.
- ICE articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- Infrastructure.
- Is a bridge needed between Scotland and Northern Ireland?
- Mechanisms of structural failure.
- Scottish Government urged to review infrastructure.
- Scottish planning policy.
- State of the Nation Scotland 2018: Infrastructure investment.
- Structural failures.
- Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002.
Featured articles and news
Celebrating architecture's eloquent champions.
Unusual perspectives on 1960s’ thinking.
AI and the challenges to intellectual property
The legal landscape of adopting AI now and in the future.
Worrying landscape for Welsh construction SMEs revealed.
In recent risk factor analysis report completed by CIOB.
Construction Sport survey highlights risks of dehydration
Supporting construction workers to avoid dangers.
Can your business afford to ignore mental well-being?
£70 - 100 billion annually in UK construction sector.
Mental health in the construction industry
World Mental Health Day 10 October.
Construction awards provide relief in wake of ISG collapse
Spike in major infrastructure awards, housing up but short of targets, are ISG collapse impacts yet to come.
Biodiversity net gain with related updates and terms
Only 0.5% of applications subject to BNG in the context significant proposed changes to planning.
As political power has shifted from blue to red
Has planning now moved from brown to green?
The role of construction in tackling the biodiversity crisis
New CIOB Nature of Building digital series available now.
The Nature Towns and Cities initiative
Grants of up to 1 million for local councils and partners.
The continued ISG fall out October updates
Where to look for answers to frequently asked questions.
Building safety remediation programme for Wales
With 2024 October progress updates.
In major support package for small businesses.
Conservation and transformation
Reading Ruskin’s cultural heritage. Book review.