We have the plan – now the mission is to make it happen.
Countries can learn a lot from each other by examining best practice and there are several examples in Scotland that the rest of the UK can look to.
It’s not about pitting different parts of the country against each other but learning from what’s worked and applying these insights more broadly. For countries that share many challenges – ageing assets, ambitious net zero goals, spatial inequality to name a few – these learnings are even more applicable.
A clear narrative and purpose are essential for infrastructure projects. The public needs to understand how infrastructure creates economic growth, adds public value, and benefits society in the long-term.
In Scotland, investment is routinely connected to national missions such as net zero, regional equity, productivity and community wellbeing. This means projects are assessed not only on cost-benefit ratios but on how they support communities, improve resilience and contribute to inclusive growth.
What does this look like in practice? One example is the Green Infrastructure Strategic Intervention, which improved access to green spaces in deprived urban areas.
The Queensferry Crossing is another example of a project that was presented well.
While the project increased road capacity, it was consistently described as a bridge that would make travelling between Lothian and Fife easier – a benefit that people could understand and that feels more personal than talking about ‘an economic asset’, although of course, it’s that too.
Getting the narrative right strengthens public support and creates clearer alignment between wider policy goals and engineering decisions.
Clear, consistent funding options are important too.
Within the constraints of devolution, Scotland has sought to be more transparent about how money is being spent, and how spending aligns with government priorities. Compared to elsewhere, there is also less reliance on competitive bidding between local areas for relatively small funding pots, which can create uncertainty and fragmentation.
Instead, funding is more often linked directly to agreed national outcomes and long-term strategies.
Of course, Scotland’s smaller population means it’s operating with fewer variables, but greater clarity and stability in how England and the rest of the UK fund projects would allow decision makers to plan with more confidence.
Scotland has also made effective use of blended funding models, combining public capital with enterprise agency support, City Region Deals, private investment and UK-level funding streams.
The Energy Transition Zone in North East Scotland is a good example. Private energy-sector investment and government funding were brought together to accelerate the shift towards low-carbon industry. This kind of partnership supports both economic development and climate transition at the same time.
England could make greater use of similar blended approaches, particularly for major energy, transport and regeneration programmes.
Scotland’s infrastructure ecosystem also benefits from strong collaboration between government, academia and industry.
The Scottish Futures Trust, an independent, Scottish Government-owned company, has a mission to maximise the benefits of infrastructure and works closely with both the public and private sectors to do so.
Additionally, a test-and-learn culture, supported by close links with universities and professional institutions, has helped create a more agile environment for innovation.
Other countries could replicate this kind of leadership to help accelerate progress toward net zero and improve productivity.
Finally, Scotland’s approach recognises that infrastructure investment is not only about cities. Transport links, digital and energy networks, are treated as essential to the economic future of rural and remote areas. Routes serving the Highlands and Islands, for example, are often described as ‘lifeline infrastructure’ – they aren’t optional extras.
This framing supports long-term investment that strengthens resilience, supports local economies and helps retain population.
It’s going to take a collaborative effort for the UK as a whole to meet its ambitions – learning from good practice examples will help pave the way.
________________
Ellen Halkon is the Scotland Committee Chair at the Institution of Civil Engineers.
LBC Opinion provides a platform for diverse opinions on current affairs and matters of public interest.
The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official LBC position.
To contact us email opinion@lbc.co.uk