The Infrastructure Podcast

In the podcast today we talk about the opportunities and challenges of retrofitting our built environment to make our homes, offices, industrial buildings and infrastructure more energy efficient but also more resilient to a changing climate.To meet our vitally important and hugely challenging target to become a net-zero carbon emitter by 2050, we urgently need to decarbonise the UK’s real estate. Our homes, our offices, our commercial buildings, our schools hospitals and public buildings. And given that some 40% of our carbon emissions come from the built environment, from heating, powering and operating these buildings - we need to prioritise retrofitting.  Retrofitting is known to be one of the best ways to address this challenge, as around 80% of the buildings that we will be using in 2050 already exist today. We just need to make them perform better.  But right now we are not on track – retrofitting our existing building stock is certainly still sitting in the too difficult basket when it comes to meeting the UK’s ambitious net zero targets. Yet there are so many examples of how easily it could change.So to discuss this hugely important topic, and the routes to success, my guest today is Sara Edmonds, who wears many hats but one is as co director of the National Retrofit Hub so should be able to give us plenty of though provoking detail.ResourcesBuilt Environment – Smarter TransformationRetrofit Balsall HeathHEAL - Home Energy Action LabWe Can MakePeople Powered RetrofitLoco Home RetrofitArchitects Climate Action NetworkBuilding Centre Retrofit 24

In today's podcast we talk about the power of professional engineering and explore why a largely unseen and unsung profession increasingly has the power to change all our lives.If you think about the major issues and challenges facing the whole of society today, they all seem to come back to infrastructure and engineering. While the headlines may be being grabbed by pre-Election party politics, it is the need to tackle climate change and meet our net zero targets, the cost of energy, the challenge of mobility and public transport, that really stand in the way of our future well being.And the list goes on.  The health and well-being implications of water and air pollution, the demand for decent affordable housing, the need to rebuild the nation’s biodiversity. All are key issues that simply will not be solved without the input from and, critically, the leadership by professional engineers. Yet as we see right now as the General Election moves into full swing, when it comes to discussing the big issues facing the UK - and the world for that matter - those professional engineers are largely in the shadows. Working hard and brimming with solutions but nevertheless resigned to taking instruction rather than leading. To discuss whether this is fair - or even whether it matters, my guest today is Sir Jim McDonald, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the fellowship organisation dedicated to and focused on championing excellence in all fields of engineering. As one of the UK’s most accomplished engineers, Sir Jim co-chairs the Scottish Government’s Energy Advisory Board with the First Minister, is Chair of the Independent Glasgow Economic Leadership Board and holds senior business appointments with the Weir Group, Scottish Power, the UK Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, and the National Physical Laboratory.So in short, Sir Jim is an authority on professional engineering and its power to make change – particularly when it comes to energy transition.ResourcesRoyal Academy of Engineering websiteThe Queen Elizabeth Prize for EngineeringScottish Government’s Energy Advisory BoardUK Offshore Renewable Energy CatapultNational Physical LaboratoryUniversity of Strathclyde

In today's podcast we focus on public transport - and specifically how investment in innovation, and in data and digital technologies can underpin a new era of passenger centric services. Certainly, technology is already transforming the way that we plan our travel and the way that we use public and private transport services. But the goal goes wider and deeper. The goal is to create a truly interconnected transport experience; to provide greater access to transport; to deliver more reliable, more effective end-to-end transport solutions for all. And to make those services a total delight to use.Creating a public transport system so good that it makes any decision to use the car seem utter madness, as my recent podcast guest Rory Sutherland put it.Whether it is through enabling truly integrated ticketing, providing better service information, boosting the efficiency of maintenance or underpinning a new breed of micro-mobility solutions, data and digital systems will be at the heart of our future transport services.However, it remains unclear how all this tech will shape the passenger experiences of the future, not least as transport evolves and funding becomes tighter. But we do know that the opportunities are both exciting and daunting and will be central to creating services that the public actively choose to use.To help us to understand more about these challenges, it is my pleasure to welcome Thomas Ableman, Director of Strategy & Innovation at Transport for London, to the podcast - the person who is literally driving innovation and change across the biggest public transport system in the UK, and one of the biggest in the world. Well, he is until next month when he steps away from TfL after three years to pursue a new start up business idea – more of that later I’m sure.ResourcesTransport for London siteTfL open innovation TfL Innovation Collaboration Framework Freewheeling

In today's podcast we talk about the role that architecture can - and must - play in delivering better design outcomes from our infrastructure investment.  It is a subject that we have discussed before on the podcast, notably with architect Harbinder Birdi who is currently leading work with the Institution of Civil Engineers to promote, and in many ways “re-birth” the role of design champions as central figures in the delivery of major infrastructure projects. It is a role set out by the 2020 National Infrastructure Strategy and reinforced by the National Infrastructure Commission which said board-level design champions were crucial to gaining better outcomes from our public investment. And without doubt it is a subject which is gaining traction.In short, good design matters. With huge pressure to turn limited funds into better economic, social and environmental outcomes, every infrastructure professional must now do more than simply play lip-service to the notion that good design matters. It has to be the fundamental driver behind every investment decision and be linked implicitly to creating those vital better social, economic and environment outcomes that flow.So let’s find out what that’s is really like at the sharp end. My guest today is Clare Donnelly, director at architecture practice Fereday Pollard and notably, the architect driving better design on major infrastructure programs such as the Tideway project and the Lower Thames Crossing. Clare is also a member of the National Infrastructure Commission Design Group, so I think will be very well placed to shed some light on what’s going right in our approach to design and where we could do better.ResourcesNational Infrastructure Commission Design GroupNIC Project Level Design PrinciplesInstitution of Civil Engineers design champions Thames Tideway design impactLower Thames CrossingFereday Pollard website

Today’s podcast is slightly different and rather special as we talk about CRASH, the charity set up in 1996 to focus the philanthropic power of construction.\Since November 2007, CRASH has been run by chief executive Francesca Roberts, and over that time has grown in terms of its influence and impact and truly brought the construction sector on board to help changes lives across so many UK communities.  But at the end of this month, after 16.5 years in the job, she is retiring and handing over the role – and her legacy - to new chief executive Trisha Pickersgill. Today, with support from industry, CRASH works with communities across the UK by helping homelessness charities and hospices with the specialist skills, equipment and materials needed for their vital construction projects. That means working to help transform hostels, day centres, night shelters and move on accommodation for homeless people across the UK; ….it means working to create caring hospice environments where children and adults can spend precious time together;….and it means helping to deliver meaningful social impact between companies and charities with long-lasting benefits to communities across the UK, whilst creating a more caring society.Changing chief executive is a big moment for CRASH and a big moment for Francesca.  So I thought now was a fantastic and special moment to hear more about CRASH and hear her highs and lows of the last few decades.ResourcesCRASH websiteHow to get involved with CRASHCRASH projectsThe CRASH team

In today’s podcast we talk about fixing the broken model for delivering major infrastructure projects in the UK. Why do we need to fix this model?Well, as we know, Britain needs high performing infrastructure if we are to improve the productivity of our economy and boost living standards for communities.“Yet the model we use to deliver and operate much of this infrastructure is broken. “Too often it produces assets and networks that are expensive, perform poorly and fail to exploit the advances in technology that are transforming other industries. Too often the supply chain that delivers our infrastructure seems locked into a cycle of low margins, low investment and dysfunctional relationships.”Not my word but those of the 2017 Infrastructure Client Group report “From Transactions to Enterprises” which unpacked the challenge.And recent project outcomes bear this out if we consider projects such as Crossrail, Jubilee Line Extension, West Coast Mainline upgrade, Hinkley Point C, HS2 – the list goes on. And there are of course many more examples of smaller infrastructure projects failing to deliver. So back in 2017, following this ICG report, Project 13 was born to tackle the problem - an industry-led response to delivery models that fail not just clients and their suppliers, but also the operators and users of our infrastructure systems and networks.Seven years on and the project is going from strength to strength, with support from the World Economic Forum and the Institution of Civil Engineers plus a rake of influential businesses, people and projects.So to find out a bit more, my guest today is Dale Evans, Chair of the Project 13 Strategy Group and partner at Allora Infrastructure. Dale has been intimately involved in the evolution of Project 13 from his time chairing the ICG and while driving industry change as he led the influential @onealliance for Anglian Water.ResourcesProject 13Infrastructure Client GroupFrom Transactions to EnterprisesProject 13 PillarsTransforming Infrastructure PerformanceThe Construction Playbook

In today's podcast we talk about public transport – why it works, what stops it from working and what policy levers government should be pulling to ease the path to greater investment and better outcomes.And in particular, we discuss the role of the nation’s rail network in transforming the entire public transport system; why rail reform is important and perhaps what that might look like in theory and in practice.Of course, rail is just one piece of a huge and complex jigsaw that makes up the public transport puzzle; one that involves a range of different and evolving modes from buses to trams to bikes to taxis and mini-buses - and increasingly now to micro mobility such as e-bikes and e-scooters.It’s a puzzle that has challenged the UK government – and many around the world - for decades and delivered regular policy papers and initiatives each designed to transform our lives. The question of course, is whether any of these are ever worth the paper they are printed on; is an efficient, effective and affordable public transport system ever a realistic proposition for the UK?To discuss this knotty issue, it is my pleasure to welcome Colette Carroll, Managing Director for Transportation at consultant AtkinsRéalis to the podcast today. Colette’s brief oversees the firm’s work in railways, highways, and local transport markets and having spent much of her earlier career working in government driving transport and rail policy, Colette should know more than most about the public transport challenge.ResourcesAtkinsRealis websiteGreat British Railways Transition TeamShapps-Williams reviewDraft Rail Reform BillTransforming Infrastructure Performance

In today's podcast we ask how designing better infrastructure can help to really grow the UK economy. Now we hear constantly about the vital role that investment in infrastructure projects must play in driving economic growth across the nation and across the regions of the UK – be that investment in transport; in energy systems; in water treatment and supply; and in communications. And it is clear that without this investment the nation simply will not remain globally competitive; our living standards are likely to fall; and we will struggle to meet the decarbonisation challenge and to ensure we are resilient to climate change.But what can actually be done by infrastructure professionals to accelerate this investment. How do we navigate the constantly shifting national and local government policy shifts; overcome the hold ups in planning; the delays in delivery and the delivery cost over runs ?. And once constructed, how do we avoid failing to create the kind of social, economic and environmental outcomes that were promised at the outset.It’s a tough conundrum but one that an army of infrastructure design and planning professionals stand ready to solve – ready to leverage their collective skills and experience to design and deliver better infrastructure – infrastructure capable of truly kickstarting and sustaining the economy and of fundamentally making lives better. So what stopping them?!To discuss this issue, my guest today is Charlie Hodgson, Executive Managing Director, Transport & Infrastructure, WSP, one of the largest consultancies in the UK. While Charlie is now responsible for the strategic direction and delivery of WSP’s infrastructure and engineering teams, he started his career as an economist so perhaps more than most really understands the links between investment and outcomes and what can be done strengthen them.ResourcesWSP websiteNational Infrastructure Commission 2023 AssessmentTransforming Infrastructure Performance

In today's podcast we are talking about digital twins and the challenge of digitalising the infrastructure sector in our bid to increase efficiency and boost outcomes from every pound of investment. There is certainly no shortage of talk nowadays about transforming productivity and the way that the use of digital technology and data can help improve the sector. And to date, the the focus has been largely on improving our design and delivery functions – using tools to draw, design, plan analyse, collaborate and share information more effectively.But in truth, and ever since we embraced the mandared use of Building Information Modelling on public projects in 2016, we have known deep down, that the bigger prize lies in digitising and boosting performance of the whole infrastructure system while in operation. Which is where the use of digital twins comes in. Enabling us to connect the physical world with the digital world; generating insights that drive decisions and interventions to help improve performance in the real world. And creating a National Digital Twin could enable better management and integration across the entire - and varied - built and natural environment ecosystem – reducing cost, carbon and improving those vital outcomes for citizens. This bold concept was core to the work of the Cambridge University supported Centre for Digital Built Britain in 2017, which morphed into various other programmes when it closed its doors after 5 years in 2022. One of those initiatives is now known as the National Digital Twin Programmeand run under the Department for Business and Trade.It is therefore my pleasure to be joined on the podcast today by Alex Luck, Head of the National Digital Twin Programme to update us on progress. Alex has been riding the digital wave throughout this time and so, I reckon will be well placed to explain where we have been, where we have got to and more importantly where she sees us heading in the future of infrastructure digitalisation.ResourcesThe National Digital Twin ProgrammeCentre for Digital Built Britain legacy siteData for Public GoodTransforming Infrastructure PerformanceBuilding Information Modelling explained

In today's podcast we delve into the complex world or railway ticketing.I say complex but what I really mean is complicated, confusing, and frustrating. Who hasn’t spent time pondering over the multitude of options thrust upon us when buying a rail ticket and mulled over the permutations and consequences of advanced, off peak, super off peak day return, open return…. Who hasn’t spent time on their journey wondering “is my ticket actually valid?”Who hasn’t then wondered “why is buying a rail ticket so blooming difficult!?Well, thankfully, the Railway Industry Association certainly has. In fact, its new report Destination: Revenue Growth highlights research finding that “complexity proved to be the biggest issue in train travel, with a fifth of travellers (20%) unable to find the cheapest ticket for their journey and 58% believing there are simply too many ticket options.”It is an issue that the rail sector has to tackle if it is going to both entice more customers onto the railway and collect the revenue along the way.Not least given that the future – the present actually - is one of digital no-ticketing. The digital world is already transforming ticketing in every part of the transport and service sector and frankly, rail has to get on board. Fast.But how? Well joining me on the podcast today is Milda Manomaityte, Innovation Director at the Railway Industry Association and the co-author of this report. So I suppose, having been immersed in this knotty issue for quite some time, she should know the answer! Let’s hear! ResourcesRailway Industry Association websiteRIA - Destination: Revenue Growth reportRIA - Data and Digital Technologies in Rail Great British Railways Transition TeamShapps-Williams review Draft Rail Reform Bill