CECA Yorkshire & The Humber: Deliver Regional Growth Through Infrastructure
The companies that build, maintain and upgrade vital transport and utility networks across Yorkshire & the Humber have said last week’s local and mayoral election results must lead to a new focus on infrastructure to boost the region’s economy.
The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA Yorkshire & The Humber) welcomed the re-election of Tracy Brabin as Mayor of West Yorkshire, Oliver Coppard as the Mayor of South Yorkshire, and congratulated David Skaith on being returned as the inaugural Mayor of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.
CECA, which represents companies that maintain, deliver and upgrade infrastructure, has called on the winning candidates in this week’s Local Elections and mayoral contests to:
- Deliver existing project pipelines, maintain investment commitments and champion future infrastructure growth.
- Call for an 18 month ‘fix’ on investment in the period before and after elections.
- Support the development of a high-level English Transport Strategy which works with Sub-National Transport Bodies (including Transport for London), integrates with the devolved nations and delivers firm five-year capital settlements complemented by indicative five-year funding.
- Establish industry-led local infrastructure and construction partnerships to support the evolution of Local Enterprise Partnerships.
- Lobby to reinstate plans for the delivery of HS2 in full, the acceleration of the delivery of Northern Powerhouse Rail and the Transpennine route.
Commenting, CECA Yorkshire & The Humber Director Jemma Carmody said: “We are calling on the newly elected representatives for our region to embrace the levelling-up agenda by zeroing in on infrastructure delivery as the best means of securing economic growth and creating jobs.
“For too long infrastructure investment in our region has lagged behind its potential, which has negatively impacted on economic and social growth. The winners of the recent local and mayoral elections must be bold in their ambition and signal a step-change in infrastructure delivery if we are to secure the local economy.
“We look forward to working with our members and our representatives to identify pinch-points that are holding up infrastructure delivery and unlock the potential of schemes to drive an improved quality of life across our great region.
“Yorkshire and the Humber boasts world-class infrastructure contractors who are willing and able to get spades in the ground on schemes that will lead to better outcomes for businesses and communities.
“We call on representatives of government at all levels to work with us to unleash the potential of regional infrastructure to create jobs, support local companies, and create a lasting skills legacy that we can all be proud of.”