Policy area: Infrastructure

Reports

Empowering mayors with progressive public-private partnerships for growth and regeneration

This report from UK think tank Future Governance Forum calls on the Chancellor in the Budget to give mayors powers to deliver infrastructure in their areas. John Healey’s Autumn Budget should give mayors new powers and funding to deliver housing, health and school infrastructure projects according to a new report by The Future Governance Forum...

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Up and atom: Unlocking SMRs and large nuclear

This report from UK think tank Onward argues that Britain faces a firm-power crunch. Up and Atom argues that Britain faces a firm-power crunch: firm generation capacity has fallen by about 24 GW over twenty years, four of the five remaining nuclear stations (the AGRs) are due to close by 2030, and much of the...

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Second wind

This report from UK think tank the Resolution Foundation examines how green industries can contribute to local economic growth. This report assesses the potential for clean industries to deliver local economic growth by zooming in on two areas with a genuine reason for thinking they can benefit from the transition to green energy: Aberdeen and...

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Mind the density gap

This report from UK think tank Centre for Cities explores how Britain’s big cities can build more homes near train stations. Large British cities are missing millions of homes within their inner city ‘urban cores’ as they have lower densities than their international peers in France and Japan. The Government is right to change policy...

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Much ado about PuFins

This report from UK think tank the Resolution Foundation examines how the UK’s public financial institutions can unlock billions for investment. This briefing note examines the UK’s public financial institutions – affectionately nicknamed the ‘PuFins’ – and asks whether they could help the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, square his commitment to the existing fiscal...

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From proximity to inclusion: A new framework for urban green space policy

This report from UK think tank Institute for Policy Research sets out an implementation pathway for inclusive governance. Urban green spaces in UK cities are vital to health and wellbeing and provide multiple benefits across many areas of city life. However, access remains unequal, especially for marginalised communities including people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, the...

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Sovereignty by design: security, resilence, and growth

This report from UK think tank Re:State argues for an approach to sovereignty that imposes security and privacy requirements on systems based on the sensitivity of the systems. There are two growing challenges in British technology policy: 1) intricate global supply chains underpin the creation of devices that run the modern economy, and 2) geopolitical...

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Keys to the future: How we build a new era of community ownership

This report from UK think tank Power to Change sets out a detailed roadmap for a new era of community ownership.  Community ownership is a proven, scalable driver of local economic renewal and resilient, connected communities. While political support has never been higher, demand for investment far outstrips supply, with the recent Community Right to...

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Designing contracts for chaos

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Policy Research explores why two Colombian transit systems diverged, and what it means for UK infrastructure. No long-term private-public contract can anticipate every future disruption when it is first agreed, yet many agreements are drafted so rigidly that when crises emerge, public authorities have no way...

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Fixing London housing

This report from UK think tanks Onward and the Centre for Policy Studies brings renewed focus to London’s housing crisis and the consequences of failing to address it. London is failing to build the homes it needs. In 2024/25, construction started on just 4,170 homes in the capital, even as the population grew by close...

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Cost, comfort and confidence: how the British population views heat pumps

This report from Nesta explores how British people view heat pumps. There are low-carbon solutions already working in homes in this country, and heat pumps can play a major role. They are efficient and reliable – and proven. But compared to other countries in Europe, heat pumps are not very well known or understood in...

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China and rare earth supply chains

This report from UK think tank RUSI reveals how China's rare earth supply chain dominance and export controls are reshaping global defence and security industries. This paper reveals how China's rare earth supply chain dominance and export controls are reshaping global defence and security industries, directly affecting the UK and its Allies. China's strategic use...

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Everything in its right place

This report from UK think tank Localis explores establishing strong organisations and practices for successful devolution. England is currently undergoing a dual transformation: that of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and the expansion of devolution across metropolitan and, increasingly, rural areas. This period of transition will be marked by significant structural changes impacting the organisational culture,...

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The new high street playbook: Community-led innovation in action

This report from UK think tank Power to Change argues that the civic high street is the right organising principle for the shift toward mixed-use, community-centred high streets.  The 'new high street playbook' shares lessons from the Community-Led High Street Innovators programme, and why they matter now. Connecting real world practice to the current policy window, this report reflects a...

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Building skills

This report from UK think tank the Fabian Society examines the built economy skills crisis. The construction and built environment sector – which brings together the design, construction, management and maintenance of homes, buildings and infrastructure – is crucial to the UK economy. It provides millions of jobs, and plays a critical role as an...

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Related Events

19 October 2026

Location: Online

Think tank: Centre for Cities

In Conversation with Deputy Mayor Howard Dawber: What does London need from the white paper on devolution?

This event hosted by UK think tank Centre for Cities discusses what London needs from the Government’s devolution agenda to unlock growth. Join Centre for Cities and Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Growth Howard Dawber for an in-depth discussion on what London needs from the Government’s devolution agenda to unlock growth. As Deputy...

20 October 2026

Location: Online

Think tank: Centre for Cities

How mayors can deliver better transport infrastructure

This event hosted by UK think tank Centre for Cities explores whether mayors have the powers to deliver the transport infrastructure their regions need. The Government’s ambition to deliver “growth in every postcode” depends on strengthening successful urban economies while ensuring more people can access the opportunities they create. Transport infrastructure is central to both:...

Related Articles

How can the UK’s industrial strategy support the ‘levelling up’ agenda?

'Levelling up' has become one of the big agenda items for this government but how can it be helped by industrial strategy? Use the Spending Review and R&D Place Strategy to increase support for business innovation in lagging regions By James Blagden (Onward) In recent decades the UK’s regions have diverged so much that we...

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