Comment from Antony Oliver
The Treasury loves to prune, but at what price growth?
This week’s Infrastructure Cost Review annual report by Treasury body Infrastructure UK once again highlights the scale and importance of activity and spending now underway across the nation’s infrastructure sectors.
Sir John Armitt can help the ICE meet future challenges
The election by ICE Council of Sir John Armitt as a succeeding vice president from November and potentially ICE President in 2015, is a hugely significant piece of news.
Our future prosperity is in need of a clear, bold vision
The 2012 NCE Consultants File is included with this week’s issue. It shows that, while the UK civil engineering market remains tough, we are at last seeing an optimistic view of the future.
Why mega projects are always a platform for growth
Frequently asked infrastructure question No 1: “High Speed 2 (HS2)- will it ever get built?”
Osborne must keep the infrastructure tap switched on
As this week’s cover story clearly demonstrates, the UK and especially London, is undergoing an infrastructure bonanza.
It is about time our water bills reflected amounts used
Thames Water’s chief executive Martin Baggs made me a very happy man last week with a surprise gift, out of the blue, of my very own water meter.
Prince Charles points the way to a brave new world
Prince Charles’ lecture at the ICE this week was a rare event and one that was, without doubt, designed to ruffle a few feathers.
Creativity and digital technology will drive future success
Since Christmas I have spent an extraordinary amount of spare time trying to get to grips with my son’s new Lego Mindstorms kit.
An integrated transport policy may be re-emerging
You don’t have to live in the South East of England to be aware of the increasingly hysterical debate over a clutch of major transport infrastructure projects proposed for the UK.
Still irreverent, still informative, still New Civil Engineer
When NCE was launched by the ICE in May 1972, the hope of then President George A Wilson was that the magazine would quickly become “essential reading for all associated with civil engineering”.
Looking forward to 2012: a year of opportunity
This week’s bumper issue of NCE really underlines the positive feelings about the medium to long term prospects for civil engineering now emerging across the profession as we head towards 2012.
Overseas experience will help our infrastructure
This year’s crop of NCE Graduate Awards finalists was once again an amazing and inspiring bunch of talented and confident young professionals.
Infrastructure gifts are for life, not just Christmas
Two weeks ago ICE director general Tom Foulkes highlighted to NCE the vast amount of delicate work that has been going on behind the scenes to help government understand the value to the economy of investment in infrastructure.
Look in the engineer's toolkit for political answers
As we move towards the chancellor of the exchequer’s Autumn statement next week, it is significant and heartening to see so many senior politicians suddenly throw weight behind infrastructure investment as the solution to the nation’s economic woes.
Big projects must win public and political backing
News this week that the House of Commons Transport Select Committee has given its influential blessing to plans for the controversial High Speed 2 (HS2) project must be seen as a challenge to the industry. The challenge, of course, is around deliverability.
It is time for us to reassert the UK as an international gateway
This week’s celebration of the M25 demonstrates the impact that infrastructure can have on a nation to underpin the economy, shape and develop society.
Political backing for projects counts for nothing without hard cash
Despite the huge number of really positive messages about UK government commitment to future capital investment coming out of last week’s Infrastructure Show, the reality is that too many businesses remain concerned about the here and now.
Greening: just the next in a long line of short term transport chiefs
Over the years there have been very few long-serving secretaries of state for transport. Philip Hammond’s sudden reshuffle into defence this week should be no surprise.
We have failed to replace our great grandparents' work
Eighteen months into the coalition government and it is unsurprising, given the administration’s continued commitment to national debt reduction, that there was little talk at the party conferences about the role of infrastructure investment in the recovery.
Our costs baffle our European neighbours – and they baffle me
NCE held its European High Speed Rail Summit in Barcelona last week - an event that highlighted the clear absurdities of the UK approach to the delivery of major public infrastructure compared to the rest of Europe.
Antony Oliver
Antony Oliver is Editor of New Civil Engineer and PPA Business Editor of the Year 2008.
Whether the issue is rail, roads, bridges, airports, earthworks, power, education, recruitment or environment policy he is always interested and usually has got a view.
He is also passionate about ensuring that the next generation sees civil engineering as a realistic career option and as a trustee of engineering disaster relief charity RedR-IHE, is keen to ensure that young and old engineers are able to channel their energy and expertise into life saving activities across the globe.
