The current infrastructure investment programme offers a chance to enhance all our lives.
An interesting opinion piece, published in Forbes, suggests we need to look forward, rather than back when it comes to planning how to recover from the pandemic. This is, of course, true, but key lessons can still be learned from the past, particularly when it comes to identifying the societal benefits of infrastructure investment.
And there is perhaps no better example than Sir Joseph Bazalgette.
Bazalgette is far from being a household name. Perhaps it’s because his creation - the London sewage system - is about as unglamorous as it’s possible to get. Or perhaps his name has slipped from public consciousness because so many people, or 8 million to be precise, now take the vast network of underground caverns for granted.
Either way, Bazalgette’s creation is emblematic of the vital importance that infrastructure plays in our lives. It is also proof of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association’s (CECA) claim that it was only through ‘the work of Victorian visionaries who conceived and built highly ambitious infrastructure schemes’ that Britain was able to build truly modern cities.
The fact is that where the economic benefits of infrastructure are well known, and the positive environmental effects increasingly so, infrastructure is rarely discussed from a societal perspective. This really shouldn’t be the case. It is a point well-made by Forbes that GDP is all too often prioritised above all other metrics. We forget the human aspect: the fact the infrastructure, at its core, is supposed to enhance our lives.
After all, as CECA’s report made clear: investment in infrastructure has the power to transform communities, improving connectivity and growth across every region of the UK. It’s not just a question of speeding people to work quicker along a new motorway, but improving internet connectivity at home, or reducing the cost of electricity. And then of course there are schools, universities and hospitals. Infrastructure, to put it the other way, is the staple of the modern world.
The issue goes further still. Architecture is deeply woven into the national consciousness. Structures like the Millennium Bridge or Kings Cross station have, over time, achieved cultural icon status. As the government looks to invest in infrastructure across the country we have the opportunity not just to improve the lives of millions, but also to build Britain’s future heritage.
From the pioneering railways and viaducts of the Victorian era constructed by our founder, we continue to build on our legacy of infrastructure projects with the delivery of today’s essential highway and rail networks.
A military engineering project of unprecedented size and complexity, we played a significant role in the construction of two artificial port facilities to support the allied forces following the D-Day landings in Normandy.
Over the last 40 years, we’ve helped Newcastle International Airport expand to meet growing demand.
In 2008, RMPA Services - a joint venture between Sodexo, WS Atkins and Sir Robert McAlpine - was awarded the project for the redevelopment of the garrison and the ongoing 35 year management of the facilities for the MoD.
Volunteers from our M6 ROM team partnered with Heidelberg to upgrade Lockerbie Ice Rink’s car park and footpath, helping the beloved community hub recover from the impact of rising energy costs.
The Colne Valley Viaduct becomes Britain's longest rail bridge after Align JV reaches this major milestone for HS2.
Congratulations to our AmeySRM team, who have been recognised with two prestigious accolades at the CIHT North West Awards.
Volunteers from our M6 ROM team partnered with Heidelberg to upgrade Lockerbie Ice Rink’s car park and footpath, helping the beloved community hub recover from the impact of rising energy costs.
The Colne Valley Viaduct becomes Britain's longest rail bridge after Align JV reaches this major milestone for HS2.
Latest fundraising efforts from our colleagues around the business have added five new bricks to our virtual Maggie's centre bringing us closer to our 100,000 hours for Maggie's goal.
