In the podcast today we spend a few moments digging behind the headlines from last week’s Kings Speech and try to understand what the implications of the new government’s ambitious first legislative programme will mean for the civil engineering and infrastructure sector.

In my Kings Speech preview last week I perhaps adopted a somewhat optimistic tone regarding the potential prospect of a rake of new infrastructure investment flowing rapidly from this new government.

Well listening to King Charles as he addressed parliament, I reckon that this optimism was justified! “My Ministers will get Britain building,” he said. “Including through planning reform, as they seek to accelerate the delivery of high quality infrastructure and housing. They will also pursue sustainable growth by encouraging investment in industry, skills and new technologies.”

I reckon that of the 39 bills introduced in this parliamentary session at least a dozen will have a direct impact on the infrastructure sector, But of course talk is just talk; promises to enact legislation do not necessarily translate into immediate boom time for the industry supply chain. So in reality what does all this promise of change actually mean in terms of boosting activity in the critical UK construction sector?

Well who better to do that analysis for us than Alasdair Reisner, chief executive of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association and the man very much with his finger on the pulse of the sector.

Resources
The King's Speech 2024
Civil Engineering Contractors Association King's Speech response
Construction Leadership Council ‘Building A Safer, Healthier and More Sustainable Future for All’