PwC comments on the UK Government’s Infrastructure Strategy

With the publication of the UK Government's 'UK Infrastructure: A 10 Year Strategy', numerous PwC experts react to what is proposed. 

Chris Scudamore, capital projects & infrastructure leader at PwC, said:

“The Chancellor’s signalled £725bn infrastructure package is nothing short of a generational reset for the UK’s ageing infrastructure systems. If delivered with intent and precision, it could reshape the social and economic fabric of the country.

“The real test now lies in execution. Government and industry must act as true partners by aligning finance, delivery, and ambition. A spatial approach to planning is a smart move: infrastructure doesn’t exist in isolation, and neither should its strategy.

“Private finance will be essential to bridge the gap. Public funding alone won’t get us there. And while commitments to skills, innovation, and productivity are welcome -  the pace of AI disruption means we must move faster.”

Vicky Parker, energy, utilities & resources Leader at PwC, said:

“Investment in the UK’s energy infrastructure is no longer just about decarbonisation targets; it is also intrinsic to UK competitiveness. High and volatile energy prices are constantly cited as a drag on UK competitiveness and our ability to attract inbound investment. Our PwC Energy Survey 2025 showed that 89% of UK organisations felt energy prices had negatively impacted profit margins in 2024. 

“We therefore welcome today’s announcement from the UK Government. While there are no new energy policies in the Infrastructure Strategy, it is a helpful aggregation of existing initiatives that correctly reflects the importance of a secure, reliable and clean energy system to the UK’s national prosperity. We particularly welcome the whole-system view, while much progress has been made on the supply-side of the energy system, the demand-side remains critical. More needs to be done to encourage consumers, businesses and public sector organisations to use energy more efficiently, given that greater digitisation and electrification are reversing the historical trend of declining energy consumption and making Net Zero a moving target.

“The UK’s reputation as an attractive destination for investment has taken a hit over the last 10 years, resulting in a £2trn investment gap compared to G7 averages. Addressing this gap will require a consistent, long-term, all-of-Government response to reinstate this reputation. This should include policy, narrative and regulatory stances that recognise the importance of attracting international investors, as UK companies alone do not have the balance sheets to address this £2trn shortfall.”

Amish Patel, transport leader at PwC, said:

“The level of transport investment in the Infrastructure Strategy is a once in a generation commitment. It provides an incredible opportunity to drive economic growth across the UK using a strong, reliable and passenger-focussed transport system as the backbone and catalyst for growth. 

“The Strategy is a welcome signal of investment intent, but intent isn’t impact. Without a coordinated view of demand across regions, we risk repeating past mistakes — where devolved authorities compete for the same scarce skills and materials, driving up costs and putting delivery and most importantly outcomes at risk.

“Public transport investment must be matched by smart planning. That means managing the demand curve nationally — sequencing programmes, sharing capabilities, and avoiding duplication. 

“The opportunity this brings for combined authorities and transport bodies is particularly exciting as they look to build and scale their businesses harnessing data and insight to drive decisions and deliver best service for customers. It won’t be long before the data in these organisations is deemed as valuable as the tracks and tarmac they lay.”

James Bailey, housing sector leader at PwC, said:

"The ambition to create a coherent plan that brings together economic, social and housing infrastructure is a critical step in positioning industry to support the delivery of 1.5 million new homes and, crucially, all of the enabling and supporting infrastructure required to create great places and sustainable communities. 

“We can see that through reforms to planning, the increased investment in affordable housing through the £39bn [Affordable Homes Programme] and long-term rent settlement, alongside the announcement of the National Housing Bank and the ability for the public sector to take a long-term, more flexible approach to addressing the range of needs across different types of sites across the country, that the stage has been set for housing to be a key enabler of economic growth.

“Reforms to the Green Book methodology, particularly the introduction of more “place based business cases”, often with housing an essential feature of mixed use regeneration, will offer further opportunities for more coherent, focussed and impactful investment from both the public and private sectors.”

Brian Burns, digital infrastructure leader at PwC, said:

“The UK Government’s 10 Year National Infrastructure Strategy represents a solid foundation for the nation’s digital future. Building on last year’s recognition of data centres as Critical National Infrastructure, the strategy’s explicit inclusion of digital infrastructure signals a strong commitment to embedding technology and AI at the heart of the UK’s economic growth agenda. Establishing robust sovereign data capacity is now fundamental, not only to safeguard our global competitiveness, but also to attract the international technology investment that will drive innovation and prosperity.

“Whilst the headline £2 billion investment in the AI Opportunities Action Plan and the launch of AI Growth Zones rightly command attention, it is the Government’s focus on practical enablers that may prove most transformative. The introduction of a more flexible and responsive consenting regime, coupled with a clear acknowledgement of energy policy as a key constraint on data centre development, addresses longstanding barriers and will be critical to unlocking the next wave of industry growth.

“Importantly, the strategy extends beyond data centres across the digital domain. It sets out measures to strengthen national connectivity, accelerate the rollout of advanced mobile networks, and embed a ‘digital first’ ethos across all infrastructure planning and delivery.”

Nick Lane, infrastructure specialist and public sector director at PwC, said:

“The Infrastructure Strategy marks a pivotal shift in elevating social infrastructure, such as healthcare, housing, and education, to the same level of economic importance as transport and energy. This recognition is long overdue and signals a more holistic view of national prosperity.

“The move towards place-based project appraisal is equally significant, acknowledging that infrastructure investment must integrate across sectors to deliver meaningful outcomes for communities.

“Longer-term planning and the forthcoming pipeline portal have the potential to be transformative. Yet, fiscal constraints remain a stark reality. That’s why the renewed openness to private finance is one of the most promising developments. The strategy aligns closely with our market research and paves the way for targeted use of private capital and PPP models, where revenue streams and balanced risk-sharing can unlock value for taxpayers.

“Removing blanket restrictions on private finance is timely and essential to maximising the impact of public capital within a blended funding ecosystem. The market is ready to engage and deliver solutions that learn from the past and offer genuine value for money.”

Bobbie Ramsden Knowles, infrastructure resilience leader at PwC, said:

“The UK Government’s infrastructure strategy is a critical opportunity to embed resilience at the heart of national development. In an era defined by disruption from climate risks to geopolitical shocks and cyber threats, our critical national systems, including energy to digital networks, must be built to withstand shocks, recover quickly, and continue serving communities. It’s essential that resilience is treated as a core design principle, not an afterthought."