The Infrastructure Podcast

In this, the 50th episode of the Infrastructure Podcast, we talk about cities – specifically how we should be designing our urban landscapes to be both fit for the future and fit for the people of the future.It’s a huge and growing issue. The UN reckons that around 57% of the world’s population currently lives in an urban environment – and that this number is perhaps as high as 80% in many developed nations. It’s a number that is growing fast, both as a percentage but also as an absolute number, as the global population increases and our lives become more intertwined and interdependent.And with this change comes a number of challenges - and a number of opportunities around creating equity, liveability, sustainability and prosperity for inhabitants. And creating safe places to live. The 2017 Grenfell Fire in London certainly highlighted the tragic consequences of failure.Of course, we must also now add to that list resilience to climate change. Protection from flood; from drought; from heat; from storms and from pollution has never been so important. All of which puts our built environment designers – those creating the buildings, the infrastructure and the spaces in between – absolutely in the driving seat - and the spotlight. Fundamentally, better cities create better lives. Which is why barely a week goes by without a new report or paper into why and how we should transform our urban landscapes. The latest of which being the New London Agenda by the team at New London Architecture.I mention this because amongst many other things, my guest today was involved in producing this Agenda and so I hope will be well placed to guide us through the issues. So let’s discuss this issue with Stephen O’Malley, founder and chief executive of Civic Engineers, a firm with the mission “to create inspirational structures and places that have a positive impact on the environment and enable people to lead happier and healthier lives”.ResourcesCivic Engineers websiteThinking beyond boundaries article - Stephen O'MalleyNew London Agenda - NLAC40 Thriving Cities Initiative

In today's podcast we are going to talk about “building modern railway” and discuss why we seem to find it so difficult in the UK to plan, design and construct decent, affordable rail connections. To discuss this issue, let’s turn to some French thinking. After all, according to many, they seem to know what they are doing when it comes to the Chemin de Fer. Perhaps?Over the last couple of years or so we have been celebrating the opening of the late, over-budget yet ultimately delightful Elizabeth Line while simultaneously wrestling with the challenge of building HS2, a grand new north-south high speed rail line, and the Northern Powerhouse Rail project which is designed to transform east west journey across the north.It is fair to say that with first, delays, then cancellations, then a rake of cost increases and now a rethink and rerelease of a batch of new / old projects under the Network North banner, we are in something of a muddle when it comes UK rail evolution. Oh and then there’s the Great British Railways transition, designed to make everything clear and efficient across the rail, train, passenger interface. We’ll see…Well let’s find out. My guest today is Mike Muldoon, Business Development Director, SYSTRA UK & Ireland. Mike has been at Systra for just over a year but before that he spent 13 years at French train manufacturer Alstom and prior to that as contractor managed projects for Alstom on the Docklands Light Railways and London Underground. So he should know what to do Let’s discuss.ResourcesSystra-UK websiteMike Muldoon LinkedInOld Oak Common HS2

In today's podcast we will build on last week’s episode  by taking another quick look into the crystal ball and exploring some more of the big issues for 2024. To help me with this exercise my guest this week is Simon Rawlinson, Head of Strategic Research and Insight at Arcadis. Simon is a long-time agitator and commentator across the sector and of course a monthly columnist in Building magazine. Does that make a journalist? Simon’s career has spanned many different parts of the sector from building to infrastructure, planning and finance, and seen him playing a number of key company and industry roles to identify the trends and form the strategy needed to meet the emerging challenges.Over the last decade of so Simon has also been immersed in the Construction Leadership Council, where he is currently a strategic advisor. In this role he has helped to set up and drive the body as it emerged into the sunlight as a voice for the sector and major influence on government policy.In particular he has helped the industry to understand and embrace data, new digital technologies and Building Information Modelling, and most recently to chart a path towards a new world of net zero of infrastructure.So it’s fair to say he has fingers in many pies so well placed to foresee the future.ResourcesArcadis Knowledge HubBuilding magazine - articles by Simon RawlinsonConstruction Leadership Council websiteNational Infrastructure PlanningRICS Knowledge and Practice CommitteeNAO report on Levelling Up spending - Nov 23

In this the first of 2024 we take a quick look into the crystal ball, asking what we might expect in 2024. To help me with this my guest today is Gill Plimmer, infrastructure correspondent at the Financial Times and long-time observer of what makes this sector tick. Gill has spent several decades immersed in the business, finances and politics of infrastructure, writing about a range of issues over the years including the rise and fall of the PFI, the merits of water privatisation, outsourced services including the collapse of Carillion and Interserve, rail franchising and the challenge of meeting house-building targets.And much of this list will, I’m sure, return to the headlines over the next 12 months, alongside the inevitable rows and promises that accompany a General Election.ResourcesFinancial Times websiteGill Plimmer Linked InNational Infrastructure CommissionNational Grid energy dashboardNational Infrastructure Planning Association

In this podcast …. well it’s just me. Just me doing a very quick recap of 2023 and the first 45 episodes of The Infrastructure Podcast - and a brief trail for what lies ahead in 2024.When I set out on this podcasting adventure back in February, I billed it as being a new, regular podcast series featuring conversations with some of the key leaders and influencers from across UK infrastructure sector. Conversations creating change.Big ambitions of course. But I hope that over those last 45 episodes I have managed to hit the brief and cover a really wide range of issues – the names you know and hopefully also some that perhaps you didn’t. Now…apparently, most podcasts die after 3 episodes so I’ll call that a success there – and according to my podcast host, your listenership has pushed me into the top 25% of podcasts which sounds good to me. Upwards and onwards! I’ll carry on!But looking back, a huge thanks must go, of course, to all the people that have given their time to chat to me. When I started this little audio adventure it was something of a personal mission and so required a leap of faith from those on the other side of the microphone - could I produce something worth listening to? Every day is a learning day so thanks for your support. I hope you are enjoying it as much as I do! The Infrastructure Podcast remains a personal mission – something I do in in my time for you – and to be honest it is rather nice not having corporate or commercial overlords bearing down on every decision!  I think it makes a difference!So a quick recap of my highlights. And, of course, if I was half competent, - or if I was backed by Gary Linaker or the BBC - I’d now be adding in short clips from across the year – Pick of the Year style. Sadly, as it’s just me in the production team, you’ll have to make do with this week’s verbal recap as I try to remind of what you might have missed! Or what you might have enjoyed! In which case do tell your friends and colleagues. (and family if you like!). Enjoy! 

In this podcast  we will be examining energy transition and asking what the UK has to do to deliver on its ambition to electrify the future economy.The National Infrastructure Commission’s latest five yearly Assessment highlights a number of strategic priorities for the UK, not least the need to accelerate the energy sector’s move away from fossil fuels to ensure we reach our net zero emissions targets by 2050 – targets underlined by the latest COP28 global gathering in Dubai.This energy transition – the journey towards a future of new decarbonised, renewable energy sources to power our transport systems, drive our industries and heat our homes - will require massive investment in electrification. In fact, an expected 50% increase in electrification by 2035, according to the NIC, to support growth in heat pump use, electric car ownership and to power industry.That means not only having to decarbonise our electricity generation by investing in wind, solar, biomass and nuclear power, but also means bolstering and expanding the way that this power is distributed and stored, and to ensure that our national grid has sufficient capacity and flexibility to meet the new ambition.In fact, NIC has set a target of completing 17 additional electricity transmission projects by 2030.Now, some progress is being made. Renewables already account for around 40% of the UK energy mix with over 55GW of installed capacity in offshore and onshore wind, solar biomass and hydro – up 6% in the year. And government has set a target to develop up to 50GW of new offshore wind by 2030 and to take solar capacity to around 70GW by 2035 - which is largely in line with the NIC’s modelling. The reality is that there is no shortage of potential sites and no shortage of potential investors. But there is a huge problem bringing forward these projects and in particular, navigating the planning process to enable investment to flow into projects and connections to be made into the existing grid.It’s a huge and very important topic so it is my pleasure to welcome Julia Prescot, deputy chair of the National Infrastructure Commission to the podcast today.Julia is also co-founder of investment fund Meridiam, and, amongst many other things, is currently driving the £2.4bn NeuConnect energy interconnector between Germany and the UK while also helping to guiding leading EV charging company Allego.Resources National Infrastructure Commission Second National Assessment 2023National Grid live power dataMeridiam websiteBartlett School of Sustainable Construction Allego EV chargingNeuConnect interconnector projectPort of TyneWilton Park

In this podcast we  talk once again about EVs – Electric Vehicles - this time about how to get power into them safely and securely. Almost exactly two years ago my guest today Kate Tyrrell launched a brand new business in response to her constant fears and frustrations over the variability of quality and lack of information about the increasing number of EV charging stations popping up all over the UK.In comparison to the UK’s petrol and diesel fuelling network, with its standardised pumps and fuel grades and covered forecourts, the EV charging network is the wild west.And for many new and vulnerable EV users, it is an unnerving experience and in many cases a significant barrier to switching from fossil fuel power. Will the charger work with my car? ---- Will there be somewhere to get a coffee? Is there a loo? Will I feel safe?Certainly, there are excellent charging stations being built. But equally there are many chargers popping up in dark windswept car parks off the beaten track, in locations that, frankly, few would feel comfortable hanging out for the 30-60 minutes required to charge up.Kate Tyrell solution was ChargeSafe, a new business that inspects charging sites and so helps EV drivers to identify which are suitable for your vehicle and provide accurate information on their condition.As of 1 April 2023, there were 40,150 public electric vehicle charging devices installed in the UK – up 8% since the end of 2022 – up 33% in a year. The National Infrastructure Commission latest recommendation is for an extra 300,000 charging stations to be online by 2030. ChargeSafe’s goal is to ensure that, as this number grows, safe and reliable charging is available for everyone. It seems to be working because this week they picked up a coveted Evie - Electric Vehicle Innovation & Excellence special recognition award for their efforts! Let’s hear how.Resources ChargeSafe website ChargeSafe on Linkedin ChargeSafe on Twitter ChargeSafe on FacebookChargeSafe on InstagramChargeSafe on ThreadsKate Tyrrell on LinkedIn

In this podcast we take a quick tour of Liverpool’s latest landmark, the new Everton Football Club Stadium which is taking shape in an old dock on the banks of the River Mersey.And having played at their current Goodison Park home ground since it opened in 1892, there will be significant expectation that this new £500M, 52,888 seater stadium will be up to the job -  and a venue capable of inspiring the Toffees out of the doldrums and back up the Premier League.So what does £500M buy you nowadays when it comes to football stadiums. Well for a start, Everton reckons its new glass, brick and steel stadium is going to be the most sustainable in the Premier League and set what it describes as “exciting benchmark for stadium architecture.” Whatever that is!Certainly it is going to be a catalyst for investment in the local area and in particular in the local public transport system as the club works hard to ensure the majority of supporter can find their way there via public transport. And a huge effort has been put into ensuring that the design minimises energy use and that 95% of materials on site are recycled during construction and that the historic dockside setting is respected and celebrated in the choice of materials.But clearly one of the major elements of the project helping to accelerate and improve the construction process, – and set the stadium up for lower operation and maintenance costs over the stadium’s lifespan – is the use of 4D digital design from day one. This has allowed contractor Laing O’Rourke to truly embrace modular and off-site construction techniques.  And, they say, helped save time, energy and carbon.To be honest, it is an approach that across the global infrastructure sector has, to date, been something of a pipe dream.So what’s made it possible on this project? Well to find out and hear more about the stadium’s progress, it is my pleasure to welcome Simon Beards, Principal Planner at Laing O’Rourke, the contractor responsible to constructing this new landmark in the Liverpool skyline.Resources Project update by Laing O'RourkeLatest video update from Everton FC

Behavioural scientist Rory Sutherland discusses the need for a more human-centered approach in transport planning. He challenges the current focus on speed and efficiency, advocating for emotionally-driven measures like comfort and control. The podcast explores topics such as enhancing transport capacity, improving bus usability, measuring regret in transportation, building affordable pods and buses, and the importance of imaginative problem-solving in transport design.

Today’s podcast is all a bit different as it is recorded in the heart of the massive Old Oak Common Station which is under construction in West London as part of the HS2 rail project.Given the amount of discussion and hand wringing across the political and infrastructure sector since Prime Minister Rishi Sunak abruptly cancelled the northern section of the project back in October, I thought I’d better come and find out what is actually still happening on phase 1 of the project. And see the progress.Well standing  in the Old Oak Common station, it is fair to say that quite a lot is happening to construct what will be the biggest railway station in the UK and capable of handling 250,000 passengers a day when its running at full tilt. That will also make it the busiest hub in the UK with every train in or out of Paddington currently planned to stop there.The 900m long station will eventually have fourteen platforms, catering for a mix of six high-speed 20m below ground and eight conventional service platforms in the station above.This will enable passengers to catch high-speed rail services to the Midlands, Scotland and the North plus services to Wales and the South-West. And, of course, there will be access to central London and Heathrow via the Elizabeth line. And maybe one day those HS2 trains will even make it, as originally planned, to a new station at Euston – for which the tunnel boring machines will have to be launched soon from the eastern end of this station box to make the vital 8km journey. More of that later no doubt as I chat through the project’s triumphs to date - and challenges to come with the man in charge, Huw Edwards, HS2 Project Client Director for Old Oak Common Station.Resources HS2 Old Oak Common station explainedThe HS2 projectHS2 view on government announcement to cancel HS2 northNetwork North - transforming British transport